Matt Targett has revealed he "hopes" to be a Newcastle United player next season - and has dropped the biggest hint yet he wants to be part of Eddie Howe's revolution on Tyneside.
As Chronicle Live reported on March 8 that the Magpies agreed a purchase option for Targett of around £15million. Although Targett will have the final say on his future and has three years left of a lucrative deal at Aston Villa until 2025.
That essentially swings the emphasis back to talks with Eddie Howe and the club's boardroom team to agree personal terms on a permanent deal for the former England Under-21 star. The 26-year-old has proved a hit with supporters and has also courted the attention of Gareth Southgate over a possible senior summer call up.
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When asked about his future, Targett told Chronicle Live: "I'm sure and hope they can sort something out for me. For sure it (decision time) is coming closer so at the moment I am really enjoying my time here and loving playing in front of the Geordie fans here."
The truth is Targett wasn't looking to leave Aston Villa but Steven Gerrard opted to sign Lucas Digne from Everton with the ex-Rangers boss suggesting that the Eastleigh-born defender should fight for his place. When asked if he would have predicted a Villa exit when the season kicked off, Targett added: "No. But since I have been in football I have seen so many things change so quickly.
"That's just the way it is. A new manager came in and he might fancy you, so you lool elsewhere. This was a massive challenge. I think the club were 19th in the table.
"But it was a project and there was real belief that I could get here and make an impact and help the team. I think I have done that. With the group of players they have here already I think they were too good to be where they were.
"It was a no brainer to come here. Like I say I have really enjoyed my time here."
Targett underlined his worth with a fantastic piece of defending in stoppage time against Leicester. Rather than shepherding the ball away or utilising Row Z of the East Stand, the former Southampton star held off his man and played a fine ball forward to Joe Willock.
Willock's cross then looped towards Bruno Guimaraes who headed home to win the game and arguably seal the club's Premier League place for 2022/23.
Targett reflected: "To be fair I didn't think the ball was going out. It held up a bit and James Justin was desperate to keep it in so I had to use my body and turn it round. Joe was in a lot of space so I picked a nice ball and he's made a fantastic run by Joe and nice cross, Bruno was the right man, right place."
Newcastle have celebrated with their fans in each of the last five home matches after recording important victories. And Sunday was no different.
Targett said: "It was an unbelievable occasion and that second half felt like it was going on forever, they really put us under a lot of pressure as a team. There were a couple of last ditch challenges needed and made the difference.
"People like Emil Krafth and Dan Burn blocked a massive shot when it was cut back late on. Big credit to those two but as a team we were brilliant."
