Loan star 'done' with Newcastle United amid Leeds United & Everton transfer interest - summer exit certain
Newcastle United transfers: Matt Targett’s loan move at Middlesbrough has been extended.
The regular Championship season may be over but Newcastle United loan defender Matt Targett has some crucial games ahead for Middlesbrough.
The 30-year-old left back has spent the full season on loan at Middlesbrough in the Championship. There were talks over a potential recall in January amid a Newcastle injury crisis but Targett was allowed to stay on Teesside to help Boro’s promotion charge.
Although Middlesbrough just missed out on automatic promotion on the final day, they will be taking part in the Championship play-offs for a place in next season’s Premier League.
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 loan extended
They host Targett’s former club Southampton at the Riverside on Saturday before travelling to St Mary’s for the second leg of their play-off semi-final the following Tuesday. The winners of the tie will face either Millwall or Hull City in the play-off final at Wembley Stadium on May 23.
It sees Targett’s loan spell at Boro extended by at least another week, potentially up to three weeks, should they beat Southampton.
Section 4 of player loan contracts signed during the 2025/26 season includes a clause for the loan to automatically extend if fixtures go beyond the end of the regular season. But there could have been an issue had the fixtures extended beyond the player’s contract at his parent club.
Targett’s contract at Newcastle expires at the end of June, where he is set to become a free agent.
Had his loan at Middlesbrough ended along with the regular Championship season, he would have been ineligible to feature for the Magpies in their final three Premier League matches. This is due to him not being named in Newcastle’s Premier League squad and the fact that players are ineligible to feature if they change clubs outside of a transfer window.
After struggling for first-team football over the last three seasons at Newcastle, Targett has featured 43 times for Boro this season, scoring four goals and assisting four, including one assist in the final day 2-2 draw at Wrexham.
Subscribe to our Newcastle United newsletter for all the news straight to your inbox
Matt Targett ‘done’ at Newcastle United amid Premier League interest
Targett has already admitted his time at Newcastle is up as he expects to become a free agent in the summer.
Boro would be a likely destination should they secure promotion back to the Premier League, but the defender also has interest from Premier League clubs, with Leeds United and Everton named as interested. A return to Southampton also isn’t out of the question if the Saints are to pip Boro to promotion.
Assessing his future, Targett said: “The future? I’m not sure to be honest. I believe I’m done at Newcastle so that chapter is closed.