---
title: "Newcastle should offload Ritchie and Dummett to keep Targett"
canonical: "https://readnewcastle.com/2022/04/28/newcastle-should-offload-matt-ritchie-and-paul-dummett-to-keep-matt-targett/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Crippy Cooke"
section: "Feature Writers"
published: "2022-04-28T19:00:00Z"
modified: "2022-04-28T19:00:00Z"
---

# Newcastle should offload Ritchie and Dummett to keep Targett

Eddie Howe has a big decision to make at left-back this summer, as he could have four players challenging for one spot next season. Howe currently has Jamal Lewis, Matt Ritchie, Paul Dummett and the on-loan Matt Targett to choose from and probably needs to axe two players ahead of 2022/23.

Ritchie and Dummett have been at Newcastle far longer than Lewis and Targett, but they could be the ones to face the chop. Ritchie was a regular earlier in the season, playing in 16 of their first [18 Premier League games](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/matt-ritchie/leistungsdaten/spieler/92469), but he’s featured just once in 2022.

The 32-year-old has spent the last four months on the bench or out of the matchday squad. Dummett has endured a similar fate too. The 6ft left-back has made only [three league appearances](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/paul-dummett/leistungsdaten/spieler/170321) this season due to injury and is out of contract in the coming months.

Dummett has [reportedly](https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/paul-dummett-newcastle-united-contract-23725834) been offered a new deal, but Newcastle may be better off letting him go. The Magpies will save £2.34m in [wages](https://www.spotrac.com/epl/newcastle-united-fc/payroll/) on Ritchie and £1.82m on Dummett, so that money could go towards Targett’s £15m deal with Aston Villa.

Lewis was [left out](https://www.shieldsgazette.com/sport/football/newcastle-united/eddie-howe-reveals-he-left-jamal-lewis-out-of-newcastle-uniteds-squad-3557506) of Newcastle’s squad in January due to injury, but [Howe is looking forward](https://twitter.com/NUFC/status/1517432699207794688?s=20&t=W1LE0-bMTAxt_PitICw7VA) to getting him back on the training ground so he may still have a future. Targett has shone on loan, so it would be foolish to let him go.

***[In other news, Newcastle risking a lot on Hugo Ekitike](https://readnewcastle.com/2022/04/28/newcastle-risking-a-lot-on-hugo-ekitike/)***