Newcastle United have decided to sell Hatem Ben Arfa this summer.

The People says Ben Arfa has kicked his last ball for Newcastle after being sent home to France "for the good of the club".

It is almost certain he will leave the Magpies at the end of the season with Roma the first club to show interest.

A Toon source said: "Alan Pardew and his management team had a lot of soul searching to do before they made the decision to send Ben Arfa back to France.

"But it was a decision they felt they had to make for the good of the whole football club and the rest of the first team squad.

"Everybody knows what a good player Ben Arfa is on his day - but this season he has been so negative, both on and off the field, and it has had an effect on the rest of the squad. Indeed, since he has been back in France things among the squad have improved considerably.

"Don't forget it was Pardew who signed Ben Arfa on a permanent basis for Newcastle. And didn't he describe Ben Arfa's goal against Bolton Wanderers a couple of years ago as the best he had ever seen?"