Nice's Hatem Ben Arfa has emerged as an objective for FC Barcelona for next season. According to newspaper L’Equipe, the French forward is one of the men on the list to play a back-up role to the trident, along with Kevin Gameiro (Sevilla) and Alexandre Lacazette (Lyon).

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The report says Barça have been following Ben Arfa for several months. It’s well known that Luis Enrique wants a fourth striker, someone who can supplement Lionel Messi, Neymar or Luis Suarez when they are injured, suspended or in need of a rest. It’s for that reason he was so keen to sign Nolito in January.

At 29, Ben Arfa has scored 17 goals for Nice this season and everything suggests that he will look for a move at the end of the campaign. L’Equipe explain that Ben Arfa has even have met with the Catalan club for talks, which they suggest went well.

His contract ends at the end of June. Before playing for Nice, he went through a difficult spell in England, where he played for Newcastle United and Hull City.