‘I expect’: Newcastle boss breaks silence on Leeds United’s chances of signing Matt Targett
‘I expect’: Newcastle boss breaks silence on Leeds United’s chances of signing Matt Targett
Time is not exactly on Leeds United’s side with the transfer deadline looming and Daniel Farke still awaiting his first signing of the January window.
Leeds had a loan offer rejected by Southampton for Cameron Archer this week.
The Championship leaders missed out on the chance to reunite Daniel Farke with one of his most trusted Carrow Road lieutenants too, Emi Buendia leaving Aston Villa for Bayer Leverkusen.
The likes of Andrew Omobamidele have also slipped through Leeds United’s grasp, while there appears to have been little progress made regarding Dor Turgeman, Diego Luna and Nico Elvedi, to name just three of the players reportedly under consideration at Elland Road.
Ahead of Monday’s 11pm deadline, the most active link appeared to be Matt Targett.
Football correspondent Graeme Bailey exclusively told Leeds United News that the £15 million left-back was not only a long-term target for the Yorkshire giants, but also one who may be up for grabs after slipping down the pecking order at St James’ Park.
Leeds reportedly entered talks to sign Matt Targett from Newcastle, potentially viewing the experienced 29-year-old as a replacement for the out-of-contract Junior Firpo.
But, speaking at his Friday press conference, Newcastle boss Eddie Howe appeared to pour cold water on Leeds’ hopes of getting Targett in the building over the next three days.
Newcastle boss Eddie Howe plays down Matt Targett to Leeds United talk
After letting Miguel Almiron retrace his Major League Soccer steps with Atlanta United – the popular Paraguayan returns to America in a deal worth £11 million – Howe would be surprised if any of Newcastle’s other senior players departed in the business end of the window.
“As we stand, currently, I don’t [expect anyone else to go],” Howe said ahead of Saturday’s home clash with Fulham.
“Things can change [but], as we stand at the moment, I expect the squad to remain the same.”
A move for Targett certainly would have made a whole lot of sense, for a variety of reasons. The former Southampton, Aston Villa and England Under-21 defender knows what it takes to secure promotion out of the Championship, having succeeded in the play-offs during a spell at Fulham back in 2019.
Targett could have brought the best out of Leeds’ Manor Solomon too, emulating the thrilling partnership he enjoyed with Jack Grealish at Aston Villa.
As things stand, however, Leeds appear to have been thrust back to square one in their pursuit of January recruits.
With Howe expecting Targett to stay, with Buendia and Omobamidele securing moves elsewhere, the Leeds-linked Daniel Svensson may be on his way to Benfica as another talented left-back drifts out of reach.
Daniel Farke expresses reservations over Elland Road loan deals
Interestingly, Daniel Farke spoke of the potential downsides to mid-season transfers during his pre-Cardiff City presser on Thursday. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, as they say.
And while Targett, Buendia and Cameron Archer would have been eye-catching, high-profile reinforcements, Farke is in no rush to drop the likes of Sam Byram, Brenden Aaronson or Joel Piroe in the midst of very impressive personal campaigns.
“When a player is available, when you are on such a good run you can’t guarantee any game time,” Farke explains. “If a player just wants to join a team due to game time [a la Targett], and you know there is lots of competition as well, I don’t just walk in and overtake the club more or less. That’s also a bit tricky.
“And some are also perhaps a little bit reluctant because you think; ‘You have some really good players in my position’.
“It’s always a bit tricky on loan deals, because loan players they often know they are just coming for a few months in order to get game time. But if they don’t see they are in a position that they would walk easily into the staring XI, then [getting them to agree the deal] could also be tricky.
“So for that, I think it’s a bit easier to attract players who also see a bit of the long-term future with us.”
Leave a Reply