​AC Milan have joined city rivals Inter in the race to sign Nice attacking midfielder Hatem Ben Arfa, according to a report in Forza Italian Football.





Inter have been repeatedly linked with a cut-price move for the former Newcastle United and Hull City player, whose contract expires in June 2016.





However, the report claims Milan representatives were also in attendance at Les Aiglons' recent 1-1 draw with Reims.





Ben Arfa has been a player rejuvenated since his return to France in the summer, scoring seven goals and assisting two others to help Nice to fifth in the Ligue 1 standings.





The 28-year-old's fine form also led to a national team call up for the first time since 2012, earlier this year.









The two teams previously went head-to-head for another France player, Geoffrey Kondogbia, last summer, with Inter coming out on top on that occasion.





Ben Afra began his career as a youngster at Lyon before switching to Marseille in 2008.





He moved to Newcastle two years later, initially on loan, and impressed enough to have his deal turned permanent the following summer.





However, the playmaker fell out of favour on Tyneside and was banished to Hull on loan at the start of last season.





Further struggles followed, though, and the Tigers cut short his spell in January allowing him to sign for Nice.





But Ben Arfa was prohibited from playing for his new employers until the summer, having already turned out for Newcastle (albeit at under-21 level) and Hull in the same season.





Follow Aiden on Twitter: ​@aidencusick