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Manchester United and Liverpool linked with Newcastle target Hatem Ben Arfa

By Sportsmail Reporter Updated: 06:18 EDT, 24 August 2010

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Hatem Ben Arfa has been linked with a shock move to Manchester United or Liverpool.

The Marseille playmaker has been offered a deal by Werder Bremen and a 'top Premier League club' - which his agent Michel Ouazine indicated was not Newcastle United.

The Geordies wanted to take the France international on a season-long loan, but angered Marseille with their offer.

Big guns: Arfa could be heading for Manchester United or Liverpool

Bremen had a £6.6million bid for Ben Arfa accepted after selling Mesut Ozil to Real Madrid, but the player's stock has risen since an impressive performance and goal for France in their 2-1 defeat by Norway earlier this month.

Ouazine said the identity of the English team making a move would be a 'big surprise', with reports in France suggesting either Liverpool or Manchester United would be the ones making the bid.

Sir Alex Ferguson is believed to be a long-term admirer of the 23-year-old, who has also been offered to Everton and other Premier League teams this summer.

'Negotiations are continuing,' said Ouazine. 'We are finalising the contract.'

Ben Arfa comes with issues. He is currently refusing to play for Marseille in a bid to force a move and is training alone away from his employers.