Newcastle United summer exit 'confirmed' as defender admits he is 'done' with club after Eddie Howe chat
Newcastle United transfers: Matt Targett has officially called time on his spell at St James’ Park as he continues to impress on loan at Middlesbrough.
Matt Targett has admitted he is ‘done’ at Newcastle United with his contract at the club set to expire in the summer.
Targett joined Newcastle for £15million in 2022 on the back of a successful loan spell from Aston Villa in which he played a key role in helping the side stay up in the Premier League.
Despite Newcastle continuing to progress on the field since then, Targett failed to live up to the heights of his initial loan spell as various injuries and fitness issues took their toll.
After barely featuring for the Magpies in recent seasons, a decision was made to let Targett join Championship side Middlesbrough last summer as he entered the final year of his contract at St James’ Park.
The Gazette has launched a WhatsApp NUFC channel to bring the latest news, analysis and team & injury updates directly to your phone. Simply click this link to join our NUFC WhatsApp channel.
Matt Targett’s Middlesbrough impact
Targett quickly settled at Boro and has played a key role in their promotion charge in the Championship this season.
But there were serious talks of a potential recall for the left-back in January as Newcastle were suffering from a defensive injury crisis. Newcastle had an option in their loan agreement with Boro to recall the defender but they ultimately opted against it, allowing the 30-year-old to continue playing regularly on Teesside.
“It was really important to me that I could come here [to Middlesbrough] and prove I can play a full season with no injuries,” Targett told Sky Sports.
“I had a chat with Eddie [Howe] in January and he was so understanding about my situation, so I thank him for that. He knew [staying at Middlesbrough] was beneficial for me and that I wanted to keep playing.”
Matt Targett ‘confirms’ NUFC summer exit
Targett is out of contract at Newcastle in the summer and has admitted he believes he is ‘done’ with the club, effectively ruling out a new deal and confirming his exit.
Middlesbrough would be an ideal permanent destination for Targett, though promotion could be a deciding factor in that as he keeps his options open.
“The future? I’m not sure to be honest,” he added. “I believe I’m done at Newcastle so that chapter is closed.
“Hopefully we get promoted here (at Boro) and there will be a contract for me…but if not I’ve played as much as I can this season so I’ll assess my options.”
Your next Newcastle United read: NUFC agree transformative three-year deal