Injury-hit Newcastle star with 42 appearances ‘made available’ for loan this summer as Prem duo show interest
The £15m defender made just five appearance last season
One of Eddie Howe’s first ever signings as Newcastle United boss could depart late in this transfer window as a host of Premier League clubs show interest.
TBR Football reports that Newcastle could offload Matt Targett before the end of the transfer window to raise funds for other areas of the pitch as the push for a centre back signing continues to take precedence in the final days.
Targett arrived from Aston Villa in January 2022 at a time when Newcastle were rooted to the bottom of the table and in deep relegation trouble despite their new found riches.
The 28-year-old made a great first impression in his initial six-month loan spell and played every minute of the last 16 matches as Newcastle dramatically rose from 20th to 11th in the Premier League table.
Targett’s form prompted Newcastle to sign the defender on a permanent basis the following summer in a deal worth around £15m. However, the Eastleigh born defender has had a nightmare time with injuries since making the move to St James’ Park permanent. This was epitomised in the opening game of the 2022/23 season when he sustained a hamstring injury during Newcastle’s opening day victory against Nottingham Forest.
The injury allowed Dan Burn to assume the position of first choice left back at the time as that summer’s marquee signing Sven Botman jumped into defence to form a formidable partnership alongside Fabian Schar.
Targett missed just four games with the initial injury but had to be patient to get his next start in the team. Shortly after returning to the side he missed 12 matches with a heel injury, meaning the majority of his 17 appearances in the 2022/23 season were simply substitute appearances.
The left back missed most of the following pre-season with that same injury and was faced with an even tougher task to make the team by the 2023/24 campaign when Lewis Hall and Tino Livramento were added to the squad. Targett got just his second start of the season against Manchester United in October but suffered another costly hamstring injury which forced him off the field after just five minutes
Targett has not played for Newcastle since that injury but did impress in his recent comeback game for the U21 team in a 1-1 draw with Sunderland’s youngsters.
He also made the bench against former club Southampton in just his second appearance in the matchday squad in this calendar year. Targett faces a battle to regain his place with the likes of Lewis Hall, Dan Burn, Lloyd Kelly and even Tino Livramento all having the ability to play at left back when needed.
This has led to speculation over his future and TBR Football understand that former club Southampton and fellow Premier League side Nottingham Forest are leading the charge for his signature on a season-long loan deal.