... German club Hamburg have joined Nice by showing interest in the Newcastle midfielder.
The 27-year-old is free to leave the North-East after failing to impress during his loan spell at Hull City.
Lille and Monaco are also interested in Ben Arfa, but the Bundesliga side's enquiries are the most advanced.
Ben Arfa, who has 13 caps for France, joined Hull on a season-long loan after Newcastle boss Alan Pardew criticised him for a lack of professionalism.
Ben Arfa scored 14 goals in 86 appearances for Newcastle but had a strained relationship with the manager, with Pardew saying: 'He won't be coming back here, that's all I can say.'