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Puel Set To Bring Nice Player To Saints Tuesday, 28th Jun 2016 09:07
If or as seems likely when Claude Puel is announced as the next Saints manager, reports in France say he will bring one of his former players at Nice with him.
L'Equipe in France is saying that Claude Puel will be installed as Saints boss today and that he has already instructed the club to begin negotiations with one of his former charges at Nice, ex Newcastle United player Hatem Ben Arfa.
Ben Arfa who had a rather chequered career at Newcastle before joining Hull on loan for a few months and eventually spending six months out of the game after terminating his contract with the North East club eventually signed for Nice in June 2015 saying that
"Even if Real Madrid had called at that moment, my mind was made up."
He said that he had returned to France because
"There are people here who trust me, who do not judge me as some people want to judge me through the press."
Presumably on of those people was Claude Puel.
Last season he played 34 league games for Nice and scored 32 goals and according to L'Equipe, Puel is keen to bring him to Southampton.
However there are other clubs interested including Leicester City in England, as well as several other clubs on the Continent with Sevilla being named as one.
On paper it looks a decent signing although there is no hint at what sort of fee would be involved, however Ben Arfa is primarily a winger and that would suggest that the signing of Nathan Redmond could be a little premature and that Saints could find themselves top heavy with wide players.
The revolving door at St Mary's could be quite busy this week as Sadio Mane leaves and Claude Puel enters, perhaps joined by one or two others.
Photo: Action Images
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We could do with this appointment happening soon - before any more players join the "get out while there is no manager" queue.
I know I shouldn't be pessimistic but neither Redmond or Ben Arfa feel like top six players to me. They are of course more than welcome to prove me wrong.
Oh and it is a pretty slow revolving door as it feels like Koeman left months ago!!
If press speculation is correct and Puel is announced as the new manager I have one concern, will the players give him their support? Hopefully he will be able to hit the ground running and get the dressing room behind him from day one, possibly by bringing in players that the current team see as quality additions. Is Ben Arfa that type of player? Possibly not considering his history at Newcastle and (very briefly) Hull. Then again if I was loaned to Hull I'd pack my bags as well.
Ben Arfa, is one hell of a player, who appears to need cosseting. If Puel can come and bring the Ben Arfa that started at Newcastle............Sadio who?
17 goals in 34 games from wing/midfield is exceptional and put him on the fringes of a very good French national team
Speculation that Saints have offered CSKA Moscow £20m for Ahmed Musa, now there is a player who is probably better than Mane. Personally I think he's a better player than Ben Arfa as well.
no need for Hatem Ben Arfa.he is not a stable player as i heard.i only wish for a last minute suprise announcement that pellegrine is the manager,but i must be unrealistic
Ben Arfa is a truly wonderful player. The Geordies absolutely adored him but Pardew was not prepared for the lack of effort he would put in when he didn't have the ball. You can't expect him to either tackle or track back but if you give him the ball he can do this.
Mane and Wanyama were a bit volatile, and Koeman couldn't ( or wouldn't) try to settle them. If Puel is confident that Ben Arfa would settle back here, then why not?
So just as i feared his only source will be french players . Every day i am becoming more and more underwhelmed and not expecting much of a season to be honest all the hard work of the previous four seasons might be about to be undone very qiuckly.
Ben arfa is a very skilled player. I remember on motd a few years back Alan shearer comparing him to messi. If he is the same player as he was a few years ago he will be very good.
Ryan Bertrands contract runs till 2019 so he has 3 years left. Klopp has made no secret of the fact he likes Bertrand though. I wouldn't be surprised if he left next summer.
Ben Arfa is quality. His last season for Nice speaks for itself. 32 goals is fantastic and it seems Puel is the guy who can control him. I'm saying this signing could be monumental.
