- Forgotten Newcastle United player gathering Premier League interest
- Matt Targett out of contract this summer
- Leeds United and Everton could swoop for full back
Everton and Leeds United are reportedly ready to battle it out for Newcastle United full back Matt Targett, who is enjoying a great season at fellow North East side Middlesbrough, fighting for promotion to the Premier League.
TEAMtalk’s Graeme Bailey reports that the full back is attracting interest from the current Premier League sides, as his contract is set to expire this summer at St James’ Park. This season, he has made 38 appearances in the Championship, where he has registered seven goal contributions.
In the 2024/25 campaign, he made just two Premier League appearances, which amounted to 19 minutes on the pitch, becoming somewhat of a forgotten figure.
Matt Targett set to leave Newcastle United
The 30-year-old initially joined the Magpies on loan from Aston Villa in January 2022, and joined alongside several other key profile players such as Bruno Guimaraes and Kieran Trippier.
Targett played 14 games for the club for the remainder of the season, with the only minutes he missed coming due to Eddie Howe’s side playing his parent club.
In the summer, Howe believed he would be the right man to fill the void at left back, so they signed him for £15 million, but from there it went downhill.
Targett has suffered several injuries, which saw him sidelined for months, and in the following two seasons he made just 20 league appearances.
The writing was on the wall at this point for Targett, with the signing of Lewis Hall making him the first choice. Injuries remain never far away, Targett made just two league appearances in 2024/25, before moving to the Riverside Stadium last summer.
This loan has been a positive step in the right direction for the 30-year-old, but it seems there is no way back for him at St James’ Park, as they look to make the next step in their project without him.
Poor decision and long-term effects
Looking back, there were few decisions more apt in highlighting the inconsistencies within the club’s market judgment than that of Targett.
While transfers of Bruno Guimaraes and Kieran Trippier helped progress the club, Targett was a mistake which has affected their business.
The league’s Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) have caused huge problems with the progress they have been able to make.
Spending £15 million on a player who has been plagued by injury issues, played just over 20 league matches and leaving on a free this summer is poor for Newcastle.
The departure of Targett this summer is a warning to the board that more failures in the market like this will continue to hinder their growth.
In other news, Anthony Gordon transfer: The Eddie Howe clue Newcastle United fans missed – opinion.
