Matt Targett set to join Middlesbrough from Newcastle United – Report | OneFootball

Matt Targett is now set to make a move to Middlesbrough.

BBC Tees reporting (see below) that their information is that the 29 year old defender is heading there on loan for the season.

Matt Targett has had a horrendous time with injuries and illness in recent seasons and it looks a good move for him to a Championship club where he should get regular football.

His current Newcastle United contract is reportedly due to end on 30 June 2026, so in order to eventually get some kind of transfer fee, I guess that either Newcastle United could have the option of triggering an extra year on his current contract, or get him to sign a new deal extending it by a year before he makes his loan move.

Matt Targett didn’t make the 20 man matchday squad away at Villa last weekend and opportunities looking very limited if he did stay at NUFC this season.

For those with short memories, easy to forget that it was Matt Targett and Dan Burn who were the two key players to come in during January 2022, in that desperate battle against relegation. Kieran Trippier very quickly picked up a bad injury, whilst Bruno didn’t make his first (away) start until more than six weeks after signing and his first home start wasn’t until April 2022. It was Matt Targett and Dan Burn who played match after match immediately after signing and were key to the turn around.

Matt Targett was very unlucky to be left out the following season, Sven Botman came in and Dan Burn moved to left-back. United with the best defence in the Premier League that 2022/23 season (joint lowest number of goals conceded with Man City). Targett then having a catalogue of bad luck with injuries and illness meaning he was rarely available.

Interested to see what happens with another Newcastle United defender. With Malick Thiaw arriving, Jamaal Lascelles found himself also not making last weekend’s 20 man squad at Villa. Will he be happy to be on the very edges of this United squad, or will Lascelles now also look for first team football elsewhere?

‘Middlesbrough boss Rob Edwards has solved one of his two outstanding problems by landing Matt Targett on a season-long loan from Newcastle, BBC Tees understands.

Edwards wanted a left wing-back with Alex Bangura out with a hamstring injury and Targett had fallen out of favour at Newcastle since his £15m switch from Aston Villa in 2022.

The defender made just five appearances last season under manager Eddie Howe, with just 19 minutes of Premier League action.

Targett, 29, has a wealth of top-flight experience having started his career at Southampton and spent three years at Villa after a loan spell at Fulham.

Edwards had also identified Max Arfsten from Columbus Crew as a possible recruit, but the MLS side were unwilling to sell him.