- Newcastle United loanee set to make Middlesbrough move permanent
- Premier League clubs also interested in out-of-contract star
- Newcastle must prioritise a left-back in the market
Middlesbrough will look to sign Newcastle United loanee Matt Targett permanently in the summer window. Targett’s Middlesbrough future is not expected to be impacted by Boro potentially failing to secure promotion from the Championship.
Targett’s contract is expiring in tandem with the end of his loan deal, with a plethora of Premier League and Championship clubs eyeing up a potential move.
Middlesbrough have made it clear that they would ‘love’ to keep the left back, who has endeared himself in a big way across the season.
Newcastle United could face Targett next season
Targett could be in line to face the Magpies in his first season post departure, with Premier League clubs also sniffing around.
Middlesbrough’s bid to bring Targett would be heavily boosted should they manage to gain promotion to the Premier League, but Targett could still favour the connection he has built on Teesside under Kim Hellberg.
Boro are just three points off the automatic promotion spots at present, although Kieran McKenna’s Ipswich Town side do have a game in hand.
Newcastle could welcome their former player back to St James’ Park, but in rival colours if Boro manage to overcome the Championship dogfight between now and the end of the season.
Of the clubs interested, Leeds United appear the most prominent of those in England’s top flight. A move to Yorkshire could also be appealing to Targett. Former teammate Sean Longstaff is already at Elland Road, and it would mark a short journey from Targett’s current stomping ground at the Riverside.
Targett made 47 appearances in a three-year stint on Tyneside, but his time under Eddie Howe was largely interrupted by some niggling injuries he struggled to overcome.
Newcastle need a left back
As has been the case throughout this season during Targett’s loan spell, the Magpies only have one proper left back in the squad in Lewis Hall.
Tino Livramento has filled in there at times, but given the increasing possibility of a transfer away from Tyneside this summer, he may not be around to fulfil the same role next year.
This means that, in all likelihood, Newcastle will sign a new left back to play deputy to Hall. With the recruitment focus shifting toward younger players, we could see an exciting talent brought in who can develop with the squad.
Whoever arrives will do well to replace the reliability that Targett offered whilst at the club, with the Englishman always doing a job when called upon.
In other news, PIF set date for meeting with Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe.
