Matt Targett has revealed how Amanda Staveley and Mehrdad Ghodoussi made signing him a priority last summer during Newcastle United's summer rebuild.
The left-back had already served his loan spell from Aston Villa but the Newcastle co-owners told Targett he would be a big part of the club's plans moving forward and how they aimed to turn his temporary deal into a £15million permanent deal. Targett is loving life on Tyneside and has been a hit with supporters since arriving from the second city club.
Staveley held talks with Targett immediately after the final whistle in the 2-0 win against Arsenal with onfield discussions taking place. Targett said: "They said ‘thanks for everything - hopefully we can sort a deal out’.
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"They’ve been super supportive of me, the team, the manager. The club’s in great hands, for sure.
"As soon as I finished the season I just wanted to come back straight away. I enjoyed my four, five months.
"Really enjoyed my football, enjoyed the city, enjoyed the fans, enjoyed working under the manager. Yeah, for me, it was a no-brainer to want to come back."
The co-owners also fought off late interest from newly promoted Fulham. But Targett was assured his dream move to Newcastle would eventually go ahead.
Targett said: "Straight after the season, I just went on holiday for a week. Then, when I got back, rang my agent.
"He said it was on, then it was off. Then went on another holiday, got back, and then they just said ‘yeah, it’s on’.
"When I landed, I literally came straight to Newcastle, done my medical - and it was all good."
Targett also played down talk that he would have preferably moved south. The left-back said: "No, like I said, I really enjoyed my football. Yeah, I like the city. I like what it’s got to offer. It was a no-brainer."
The defender was sold the vision of the owners back in June too. He added: "Yeah, for sure, in terms of where the owners want to take the club. I believe it’s the start of something which is going to be really, really big.
"It’ll be nice to look back on my career, and say ‘I’ve played for Newcastle United’."
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