Hatem Ben Arfa's future at Newcastle United is in doubt.

The Independent says Ben Arfa's future at Newcastle United has been left in limbo after the appointment of Joe Kinnear as director of football.

The France midfielder wants to stay at the club and talks were due to start about him extending the contract he signed when he moved to the club.

However, Kinnear might decide to cash in on the mercurial midfielder because the club owner, Mike Ashley, who has sanctioned the spending of more than £50 million in the last three transfer windows, is unlikely to agree to more new money being spent in the run-up to the new season.