Newcastle United loan defender kept away from club amid major EFL controversy
Matt Targett has spent the 2025/26 season on loan from Newcastle United at Championship side Middlesbrough, who suffered Championship play-off heartbreak on Tuesday.
Matt Targett’s loan spell at Middlesbrough is officially over, but he is not expected to return to Newcastle United this week.
Boro were beaten 2-1 by Southampton after extra-time in the second leg of their Championship play-off semi-final on Tuesday night.
It comes amid an EFL investigation into Southampton for alleged spying on Middlesbrough in the build-up to the first leg.
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Southampton are now set to face Hull City in the Championship play-off final at Wembley Stadium on May 23.
Middlesbrough promotion dream over?
While Boro’s season is officially over, it has been reported that they will continue to train and lobby for a sporting sanction for Southampton, which, if successful, could see them awarded a place in the final.
Southampton manager Tonda Eckert’s press conference was cut short after he was asked whether he was ‘a cheat’ by a member of the Boro press pack.
And a ‘heartbroken’ Middlesbrough boss Kim Hellberg said after the defeat: “When someone decides, ‘nah, we’re not going to watch every game, we send someone instead and film the session’, see everything and hope they don’t get caught – I guess that’s why he was switching clothes and everything that I have seen on the television – it breaks my heart in terms of all those things I believe in.
“I think that it’s disgraceful. It makes me very sad. If we hadn’t caught that person, I would be sitting here thinking I should have done better things.”
EFL rules were introduced after Leeds United were punished for a similar spying situation back in 2019. While Leeds escaped with a fine back then, the new rules prohibit spying within 72 hours of a game. But the punishment for being found guilty of breaching them remains unclear as Boro look to pile the pressure on the EFL.
Matt Targett set for summer move
Targett will train with his loan club for the time being until a decision over a potential punishment for Southampton is reached.
The 30-year-old left-back is facing an uncertain future with his contract at Newcastle set to expire next month. He will not be handed a new deal and will be free to join a new club as a free agent this summer.
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.