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Hatem Ben Arfa Future Sorted Out?

Reports are that the long nightmare between Alan Pardew and Hatem Ben Arfa may be close to ending.

Mark Runnacles

It has taken nearly the entire length of Transfer Deadline Day for anything to really register with Newcastle Fans, but Scott Wilson provided the call that awakened Toon fans:


On top of Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa's loan departure (as yet unconfirmed) to AS Roma, HBA would be the second departure on deadline day on top of 0 arrivals.  Frankly, most Newcastle fans were probably resigned to the imminent departure of the talented Frenchman, however most would have anticipated the departure would see him headed outside of the Premier League.  No figures have been mentioned and the rumor itself hasn't featured on the ubiquitous Sky Sports Deadline Day coverage, but this is a hard one to dismiss out of hand.

If anything, Hatem Ben Arfa's has been uneven at best, but we all know what he is capable of and as such seeing him flogged off to a division rival is mindblowingly idiotic.  Anything can happen, however, and we'll be watching the next 2 hours to see if this one has legs.

UPDATE:  The current discussions are for a season-long loan move from Newcastle to Hull.  Reportedly, HBA would not be able to face NUFC for Hull.