Chelsea Open Talks Over £26m-Rated Attacker

The summer transfer window is open and Football Talk will bring you all the latest Chelsea transfer news doing the rounds in the papers. Today, the Blues are linked with a French midfielder.

Chelsea have approached Newcastle United about signing Hatem Ben Arfa, according to the Daily Mail.

The report claims that Blues owner Roman Abramovich is keen to continue his summer spending spree and still wants to add more creativity to Chelsea’s attacking options, despite the recent signings of Marko Marin and Eden Hazard.

Ben Arfa has been identified as a potential signing and the Mail claim that Chelsea representatives have already opened talks with Newcastle officials over the availability of the French attacker. The Londoners are believed to be willing to pay around £18m, while Newcastle rate the 25-year-old at nearer £26m.

The midfielder made the French squad for Euro 2012 after an excellent season on Tyneside, where he scored 6 goals and made 7 assist in his 30 appearances last term.

With three years remaining on his current contract, the Geordies are confident they can hang on to Ben Arfa as they look to build upon their excellent 2011/12 season, where they finished above Chelsea in fifth place and narrowly missed out on a top-four finish.

FT Verdict

If you want flair and creativity, there aren’t many better than Ben Arfa in the Premier League. But i think it might prove difficult to prize him away from St James’ Park this summer.

Read more Chelsea transfer rumours

The Frenchman has only really had one season with Newcastle after missing a full year with a broken leg and i can’t see Abramovich paying what it would take to land him. I think he’ll stay one more year at Newcastle before looking for a move next summer.

Would you like to see Ben Arfa at Chelsea? Get involved in the comments section.