Newcastle United are reportedly closing in on a deal to sign Aston Villa defender Matt Targett on loan until the end of the season.
According to 90 min, Aston Villa defender Matt Targett is reportedly attracting serious interest from Newcastle United after falling behind winter signing Lucas Digne in the pecking order.
With just under one day left in the January transfer window, it could be a frantic deadline day in Tyneside, with the Magpies pushing to complete multiple deals. They have already signed Kieran Trippier, Chris Wood and Bruno Guimaraes to take their spending spree above £70 million, and they are also close to completing a £13 million move for Dan Burn.
Although the Brighton defender can fill in the left-back slot if required, Eddie Howe seems determined to land a natural full-backs by the end of the transfer window. Newcastle have seen targets like Lucas Digne and Robin Gosens sign for other clubs.
While left-field alternatives such as Bayer Leverkusen’s Mitchel Bakker and Sassuolo’s Rogerio have also been considered, Aston Villa defender Matt Targett is understood to be their priority option owing to his Premier League experience. Newcastle are now pressing to get the former Southampton left-back on board for their Premier League relegation battle.
The Magpies made their first contact a while ago and could push forward a fresh proposal in the coming hours. Talks between clubs are at advanced stages, with Targett’s representatives heading to North East on Sunday after Villa handed them approval to negotiate a deal. The left-back will most likely follow up with a medical on Monday.
The 26-year-old moved to Aston Villa from Southampton in 2019 and has been a consistent performer for the Villans as their first-choice left-back. He featured in every Premier League match for Villa last term and also won the Players’ Player of the Season award for his underrated displays.
But given the rapidly changing nature of football, Lucas Digne’s arrival from Everton means the Englishman is no longer the first-choice left-back at the club, putting his playing time in jeopardy. The 28-year-old Frenchman walked straight into the starting eleven for the clash against Manchester United a fortnight ago, relegating Targett to the bench.
While left-back is not a priority position for the Magpies, they can certainly do with some quality down the left flank. Targett would be a smart low-key signing and has the potential to be a significant upgrade over Newcastle’s current left-back options.
Targett is under contract with the Midlands club until 2025, but Aston Villa have now signed versatile defender Calum Chambers and also have Ashley Young in their ranks as other options in that position. So they may be open to the idea of letting their prized defender leave.
There is nothing mentioned about an obligation or option to buy clause being embedded in the loan deal on the grounds of Newcastle staying up this season. Whether Newcastle can complete a last-gasp deal to bring Matt Targett from Aston Villa remains to be seen.