Newcastle United have completed the signing of Matt Targett from Aston Villa on a loan deal until the end of the 2021/22 season.
Targett comes as the first Newcastle deadline day signing and the fourth signing the Magpies have made during the winter window.
The arrival of Targett is a safe capture made by Newcastle as they look to vastly improve their backline. Targett is a popular figure in the dressing room of Aston Villa winning players player of the year last season.
Targett comes to the Newcastle team having played 126 times in the Premier League for Southampton and Aston Villa. The defender is comfortable playing in a more defensive system being inverted or the standard wide left-back. The 26-year old can also play as a wing back in a five at the back system.
How has this move happened?
Matt Targett has not played a minute of football for Aston Villa since Lucas Digne arrived from Everton earlier on in the transfer window.
At 26 years of age, Targett is approaching his prime year and has now opted to pursue regular first team football as he completes the loan switch to Newcastle.
New Aston Villa boss Steven Gerrard had this to say about both players insisting he wanted a battle for the position.
"I'm the lucky one because I’ve got two top class left-backs. Matt’s pedigree, we believe he’s a really strong Premier League left-back.
"We’ve set the challenge and the gauntlet to Matt to take the fight to Lucas for the position and during the month of February the games are going to come thick and fast so we’re going to need two top left-backs."
With Digne now seemingly the number one option for Gerrard, a move to St James’s Park was very appealing for Targett who wanted to ensure he continued to get regular first-team football.
Targett: 'It's a football mad city and I'm excited to be a part of it '
Targett speaking to the club website says: "I'm delighted to be here. I can't wait to get going and meet all the fans and hopefully we can have a successful end to the season.
"My family have friends here and they've always said it's a football-mad city, so to experience it and be part of it - I'm really looking forward to it."
Head coach Eddie Howe adds to the positive words said about Targett: "We have gone into this transfer window with a plan to add strong competition in specific areas of the team and Matt will be a fantastic option for us on the left."
Howe also adds how important Targett's experience is to this club: "He has important Premier League experience and know-how at this level, so I'm really pleased we've been able to add him to the squad."
Who else could be coming through the door?
Dan Burn from Brighton and Hove Albion is heavily rumoured to come through on deadline day
Jesse Lingard has also been linked with a potential loan move from Manchester United, but over the last few minutes that has quashed and the player will remain at Manchester United for the remainder of the season.
For all transfer activity happening on deadline day you can check out Vavel's deadline day stream.