The January loan signing of Matt Targett from Aston Villa helped Newcastle United shore up a position they struggled with in the first half of the season. The likes of Matt Ritchie and Jamal Lewis failed to ever really make that spot their own, while Javier Manquillo was also occasionally tasked with filling in there.
Targett has played every minute of every match for the Magpies since his arrival, with Aston Villa the only game he missed due to being ineligible against his parent club. Newcastle have won 75% of the games in which Targett has started, showing the importance he now has in the side.
There is no doubt this summer that Newcastle will target some of Europe’s most exciting talents as they look to further bolster their squad under the new ownership. But converting Targett’s loan deal into a permanent switch could be one of their most important bits of business in order to maintain some continuity.
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Former West Ham United striker Frank McAvennie is of that thought process, too. Speaking to Football Insider, he claimed that the decision will be a no brainer for the Magpies as he is yet to ‘put a foot wrong’ in his time at the club.
He said: “He’s clearly enjoying himself up there and he’s playing every game. Gerrard clearly didn’t think he was good enough so he signed the boy Digne from Everton. So there probably isn’t a future there for him.
“At Newcastle though, they love him. He’s a wonderful player so if Newcastle do have that £15million option I would tell them to get it done as soon as the window opens. Why would you not? He’s helped them get out of a tricky situation and he hasn’t put a foot wrong.”
