Magpies hopeful of permanent Ben Arfa deal

Newcastle hope to tie up a permanent move for French winger Hatem Ben Arfa within the next 24 hours.

The Magpies have been in talks with the 23-year-old Marseille winger, who suffered a double leg fracture just four games into his season-long loan spell on Tyneside in October, in an effort to clinch a deal with other interested parties monitoring his situation.