Newcastle United transfers: Matt Targett is set to stay at Middlesbrough after talks regarding a potential loan recall.
Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe has continually refrained from ruling out a recall for Targett, who is out of contract at St James’ Park in the summer and is currently enjoying a productive loan spell at Boro in the Championship.
Targett is fighting for his future and won’t be offered a new contract at Newcastle when his current deal expires in June. As such, the player wants to stay at Middlesbrough and continue playing regularly opposed to returning to Newcastle to be a back-up option to Lewis Hall.
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Matt Targett recall
But Newcastle did entertain a recall for Targett this transfer window with sporting director Ross Wilson speaking with Middlesbrough and the player’s representatives. The Magpies even extended the loan recall clause up until deadline day after it was initially due to expire midway through the window.
Following Saturday’s 4-1 defeat at Liverpool, Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe was asked about recalling Targett once again.
“Yeah, well that’s something that we’ll be discussing until the end of the window,” Howe said, refusing to rule it out
But Newcastle are set to respect Targett’s wishes and allow him to finish the season at Middlesbrough as he looks to earn a permanent contract by helping the club achieve promotion back to the Premier League.
Newcastle United’s defensive options
A recall for Targett was only seriously considered this transfer window due to Newcastle’s defensive injury crisis, which has seen Dan Burn, Sven Botman, Kieran Trippier, Lewis Hall, Tino Livramento, Fabian Schar and Emil Krafth all miss games due to injury.
While Burn, Botman, Trippier and Hall have since returned to action, Howe’s defensive options are still limited with Livramento out until March, Schar out until April and uncertainty over Krafth, who has been out for almost three months.
Hall is Newcastle’s starting left-back, though Burn has historically been used as cover in that position with Livramento unavailable. Midfielder Lewis Miley has also covered at right-back but is currently nursing a knee problem, while there are also concerns around Botman’s thigh ahead of the trip to Manchester City on Wednesday.
Newcastle explored the possibility of making a new defensive signing during the winter window but Howe’s claim that the return of Burn would be ‘like a new signing’ has proven to be the harbinger of another barren winter window for the club.
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