Mario Balotelli’s decision to stay at Nice has tipped the scales towards the Ligue 1 club in their chase to sign West Ham United linked Hatem Ben Arfa.
Ben Arfa has been a free agent since leaving Paris Saint-Germain at the end of last season and is yet to find a new club for himself despite being linked with a number of outfits across Europe.
A number of French clubs have been interested in the player and even West Ham have been linked with a move for him, but he is unlikely to arrive in England any time soon.
The Frenchman is expected to continue in France and Nice have emerged as the favourites to land the former Newcastle United man in the coming days.
And according to French radio station RMC, Balotelli’s decision to stay at Nice has made the club the front runners to land the winger on a free transfer this summer.
Nice have been in talks with Ben Arfa’s representatives and Balotelli staying was one of the key conditions before the winger wanted before taking a decision.
Ben Arfa is also angling towards a move to Nice as they are prepared to offer one-year deal, with an option to extend for one more year, something that the player also prefers.
The winger didn’t play a single minute of football for PSG last season.
