Villa full-back Matt Targett’s future club remains unclear following the end of a positive loan spell at Newcastle United.
Targett, who Villa acquired from Southampton for around £11.5m in 2019, quickly fell out of favour with Steven Gerrard after a string of alarming defensive performances.
Embed from Getty ImagesThings have been more positive for the 26 year old after a eyebrow raising loan switch to Newcastle in January, which saw an uptick in form and fortunes for the player. Indeed, Targett appeared to gain something of a cult following on Tyneside, shoring up a defensive set-up that seemed destined for a relegation dogfight.
Despite the defender’s rise in stock of late, it appears extremely unlikely that he has a future at Villa Park.
Targett, although a likeable figure, failed to reproduce the lockdown form in B6 which had led to many wrongly believing he’d really kicked on. Sadly, a number of defensive blunders, alongside a lack of attacking threat down the flank saw him unceremoniously replaced by Lucas Digne. Few could deny on what we’ve seen to date that Digne represents anything other than a significant upgrade over the former Saints academy graduate.
Interestingly, Targett’s usefulness at Newcastle may also have reached the end of its shelf-life too. One blog reflection on the defender’s contribution is appreciative, but arrives at a conclusion that Newcastle’s ambitions are now greater given his attacking limitations. Eddie Howe’s contraversial owners, cash rich and ambitious, are widely expected to be very active in the transfer market this summer.
However, an interesting development is that of newly promoted side Fulham appearing to be showing a firm interest.
Fulham, who Targett enjoyed a successful loan with previously, will be looking to bolster their options ahead of their return to Premier League football.
The left-back was widely believed to have a buy-out clause inserted into his Newcastle loan deal of around £15m, indicating clearly what Villa see his valuation as being. The final decision will ultimately come down to the player, who is understood to prefer a move further down South in order to be closer to family.
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