Magpies set to land French talent and other red-hot gossip

(10-08-2010) Exciting French talent Hatem Ben Arfa is closing in on a move to Newcastle United. According to reports, the 23-year-old attacking midfielder is set to move to St James Park on a one-year loan from current French champions Marseille. Elsewhere, Manchester United are mulling over a move for Werder Bremen midfielder Mesut Ozil, who could be available for a cut-price £13.5m because he is in the last year of his contract; Tottenham are looking to sell striker Peter Crouch so that they can move for exciting Lyon goal ace Loic Remy; Blackburn are trying to tie up a deal for Fenerbahce's £5m-rated Spain striker Dani Guiza; and Stuttgart defender Serdar Tasci claims he is ready to leave the Bundesliga club if Arsenal make an offer for him.