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Transfer News: Birmingham linked with Hatem Ben Arfa loan deal

Image: Hatem Ben Arfa: Newcastle attacker linked with Birmingham loan

Birmingham City manager Lee Clark is keeping quiet on reports he wants to sign Newcastle United attacker Hatem Ben Arfa on loan.

Ben Arfa is out of the picture at St James’ Park and has not featured this season following a reported disagreement with Newcastle boss Alan Pardew towards the end of the last campaign.

The 27-year-old has been linked with a return to former club Lyon, but there have also been reports that Birmingham are chasing a surprise loan deal.

He (Ben Arfa) is obviously a Newcastle United player and there’s a situation up there with him not being in the team... if anything was to happen, we will let you know.
Lee Clark

Clark did not want to be drawn on any interest in signing Ben Arfa, who has scored 14 goals in 86 appearances for Newcastle since joining from Marseille, initially on loan, four years ago.

“He’s obviously a Newcastle United player and there’s a situation up there with him not being in the team,” said Clark.

“But I don’t want to talk about any other teams’ players. If anything was to happen, we will let you know."

Speaking after Saturday’s 4-0 defeat at Wigan in the Championship, Clark was unsure if he would be making any additions to his squad before Monday’s transfer deadline.

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He added: "We will see. We will see if anything comes up that is different to what we have got.

"On this performance we maybe need to look at defenders. But that might be a bit harsh on the boys who have played there, because they have done well until this game.”

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