After a quiet beginning to the transfer window relative to their Premier League rivals, Newcastle are starting to make moves this summer.
The Magpies had a £45m bid for Anthony Elanga rejected in recent days as they look to bring in attacking reinforcements.
Most importantly, they have thus far been able to keep hold of their star striker, Alexander Isak.
While there is a genuine fear among those at St James’ Park that Liverpool will bid for Isak, with three years left on the Swede’s deal, Newcastle should be able to rebuff any advances, at least for this summer.
After four seasons with the club, however, there is one player who could be on his way out of St James’ Park. Although before then, he is set to be given one last chance to impress Eddie Howe.
Matt Targett could get a chance in pre-season amid Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall absences
After joining the club on loan from Aston Villa in January 2022, Newcastle made Matt Targett a permanent signing in the summer of the same year, securing the left-back for a fee of £15m.
At the time, the transfer was a great bit of business; Targett made 16 top-flight appearances for the club in the 2022/23 campaign, helping his side win 10 of those games as they climbed away from the relegation zone.
After making the move permanent, though, things went downhill.
Plagued by repeated injury issues that have limited the 29-year-old to just 22 top-flight appearances in three seasons, Targett lost his starting spot to Dan Burn.
Season Appearances Minutes played
2024/25 2 19
2023/24 3 78
2022/23 17 603
2021/22 16 1440
Matt Targett’s Premier League stats for Newcastle, according to TransferMarkt
Things only got worse after the arrivals of Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall, both defenders moving ahead of the former Southampton academy product in the Newcastle pecking order.
Yet it is the impending absences of Livramento and Hall ahead of Newcastle’s return to pre-season training at the beginning of July that could provide Targett with one last chance to reignite his career in the Northeast.
Due to his exploits with the England U21s, Livramento will be reporting for pre-season duty a few weeks after the rest of the Newcastle squad.
Hall, meanwhile, is still recovering from the season-ending foot injury he suffered before the 2025 Carabao Cup Final.
Targett could therefore be presented with an opportunity in the club’s opening pre-season fixtures against Celtic and Arsenal, one he must surely take.
Matt Targett in Champions League action for Newcastle United against Borussia Dortmund.
Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images
Eddie Howe could look to move Matt Targett on this summer
If he doesn’t impress, and with just a year left on his contract, it is likely Howe will look to move the English defender on this summer.
Leeds indicated their interest in Targett in January, although they ultimately decided against pushing for the defender as they managed to keep hold of their left-back, Junior Firpo.
However, with Firpo looking as though he is on his way out of Elland Road this summer, Daniel Farke’s side could once again ramp up their interest in the Newcastle defender.
If they do, it would be a good move for both parties.
Providing Targett can stay fit, he’d bring significant Premier League experience by virtue of his 164 appearances in the top-flight.
He is also accustomed to scrapping it out in relegation dogfights, having helped Aston Villa survive in 2019/20 and Newcastle in the aforementioned 2021/22 campaign.
Such know-how could be vital as Leeds attempt to become the first promoted side to survive in the top-flight since 2022/23.