Hull City manager Steve Bruce has revealed he does not know where Hatem Ben Arfa was in the hours leading up to the Tigers’ English Premier League clash with Chelsea on Saturday.
According to reports in France, Ben Arfa, 27, is training in Paris and will be looking for a new club in January.
The 27-year-old, who joined Hull on a season-long loan deal from Newcastle United, is believed to bee attracting interest from clubs in Brazil, France, Germany, and Spain ahead of the January transfer window.
That said, Bruce does not know whether the aforementioned reports are true.
“To be honest, I don’t know if Hatem is in Paris. That’s the truth,” said Bruce.
“As for not playing again for Hull City, then at the moment he’s not in the squad and the transfer window opens in January.
“There are still conversations to be had with him, but at the moment he is not in the squad and he hasn’t earned the right to be in the squad at the moment.
“I don’t know if the report he is in France, or whatever it is, is true. I’m not sure.”
Ben Arfa has tallied just one assist in nine appearances in all competitions for Hull City this season.
During the upcoming festive period, Bruce will likely turn to the likes of David Meyler, Gaston Ramirez and Robbie Brady to fill in for Ben Arfa, as the Tigers look to dig their way out of the relegation zone during the upcoming festive period.
Ferdy has no regrets over QPR move
Former England international centre-back Rio Ferdinand has insisted he has no regrets over joining Queens Park Rangers despite losing his first-team place to Richard Dunne.
Ferdinand, who joined Rangers after leaving Manchester United last summer, has struggled to maintain his fitness levels this term.
As a result, Harry Redknapp was forced to replace the 36-year-old with Richard Dunne, who [at 35] is by no means one of the fittest defenders in the Premier League.
Unsurprisingly, QPR are currently in the bottom-three, one point from safety, ahead of their visit to Goodison Park on Monday.
Speaking ahead of Monday’s league fixture, Ferdinand told The Sun: “No footballer worth his salt likes sitting on the bench. So I would be lying if I said I’m perfectly OK about being left out of the QPR team recently.
“When you have enjoyed all the success of being at a club as big as Manchester United for more than a decade, there is no hiding the fact that my current circumstances are a bit of a comedown.
“But do not make the mistake of thinking I have any regrets about my move to Loftus Road – because I don’t.
“I knew what I was getting myself into and knew I’d be at a club where you would mostly spend your time looking up at teams rather than down at those below you.
“And I was well aware that I probably wouldn’t play every game. I’m realistic that, at the age of 36, that was never going to happen.”
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