Owners made it clear I was a top Targett, says defender
MATT Targett has revealed how coowners Amanda Staveley and Mehrdad Ghodoussi made signing him a priority during Newcastle United’s summer rebuild.
The left-back had already served his loan spell from Aston Villa but the United supremos told Targett he would be a big part of the club’s plans moving forward and wanted to turn his temporary deal into a £15million permanent one.
Staveley held talks with Targett immediately after the final whistle in the 2-0 win against Arsenal, even discussing the defender’s future while they were on the pitch.
The former Southampton man said: “They said ‘thanks for everything – hopefully we can sort a deal out.’
“They’ve been super supportive of me, the team, the manager. The club’s in great hands, for sure.
“As soon as I finished the season I just wanted to come back straight away. I enjoyed my four, five months.
“I really enjoyed my football, enjoyed the city, enjoyed the fans, enjoyed working under the manager. Yeah, for me, it was a no-brainer to want to come back.”
The Magpies had to fight off late interest from newly promoted Fulham but landed their man to kickstart a transformative summer.
But Targett insisted he was always confident he would be back on Tyneside, even if there were moments when things were up in the air.
Targett said: “Straight after the season, I just went on holiday for a week. Then, when I got back, rang my agent.
“He said it was on, then it was off. Then went on another holiday, got back, and then they just said ‘yeah, it’s on.’
“When I landed, I literally came straight to Newcastle, done my medical and it was all good.”
He also hit back at suggestions he wanted to return to the south, adding: “I really enjoyed my football. Yeah, I like the city. I like what it’s got to offer. It was a no-brainer.
“In terms of where the owners want to take the club. I believe it’s the start of something which is going to be really, really big.
“It’ll be nice to look back on my career, and say ‘I’ve played for Newcastle United.’”