Newcastle United transfers: Eddie Howe is still refusing to rule out a shock deadline day move for The Magpies.
Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe has ruled out the prospect of any new signings before the end of the winter transfer window.
It’s deadline day and the window closes at 7pm tonight with Newcastle expected to go a third successive winter transfer window without making a major signing.
But there is one unique move Howe has consistently not ruled out throughout the window.
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NUFC’s emergency defensive solution still available
The move in question is a loan recall for Matt Targett.
Targett, who is out of contract at Newcastle in the summer, has been enjoying a strong season with Championship high-flyers Middlesbrough and a recall from his loan spell has been discussed between all parties.
Opposed to spending millions on a new signing or hoping for players to get fit and stay that way, a recall for Targett has been considered as an emergency and cost-effective defensive solution for the club, who are in need of defensive cover.
Boro and Targett understandably want to keep things as they are but Newcastle hold the power in terms of being able to trigger a January recall clause up until the deadline. The prospect of a recall for Targett was initially reported by The Gazette last month amid a defensive injury crisis for Newcastle.
The Magpies operated throughout the majority of January with just four fit senior defenders to choose from. The side have since been boosted by the return of Dan Burn to fitness, but the historically injury-prone Sven Botman has recently been struggling with a thigh issue that benched in at Liverpool on Saturday.
Emergency defensive solution Lewis Miley has also been nursing a knee problem after impressing at right-back. Tino Livramento, Fabian Schar and Emil Krafth have all been sidelined with longer-term problems that have prevented them from playing recently.
Eddie Howe on Matt Targett recall
“We will reflect on all options that are available to us,” Howe said earlier this month regarding a recall for Targett. “We will try to make the right call.
“With Matt, there’s not just our wants and needs, there’s his as well and we have to balance both. Let’s see what happens with that one.”
But with uncertainty over his defensive options, Howe was asked prior to deadline day whether a recall for Targett was still a possibility for Newcastle.
“Yeah, well that’s something that we’ll be discussing until the end of the window,” Howe said, refusing to rule it out.
Newcastle’s recall clause was originally due to expire earlier in January but it has since been extended up until the transfer deadline as Newcastle assess all options.
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