Newcastle United place £100,000-per-week star on transfer list as Eddie Howe’s summer exodus speeds up.

Matt Targett joined Newcastle United for £15 million in 2022, earning an estimated £100,000 per week.
Newcastle United would consider offers for £100,000-per-week forgotten man Matt Targett this summer.

The 28-year-old, who was originally joined on loan in January 2022, played a major factor in the Magpies’ revival to survival. The next summer, Targett signed a permanent contract worth roughly £15 million, but he has played seldom since.

The defender suffered an injury early in the 2022-23 season, and Dan Burn filled in at left-back in his absence. Newcastle never looked back, securing Champions League participation with the top flight’s joint-best defensive record.

Targett’s disappointments were compounded in November when he sustained a season-ending hamstring injury just 30 seconds into a 3-0 triumph over Manchester United at Old Trafford. Despite promising to return “better than ever,” NewcastleWorld knows the Magpies will trade him if a good offer comes in.

However, considering his exorbitant salaries and the fact that the left-back’s contract only has two years left, this may prove tough. Targett is a seasoned Premier League defender with previous stints at Aston Villa, Southampton, and Fulham, but in an FFP/PSR-dominated environment, potential suitors may be put off by his salary.

Offloading Targett would save about £5.2 million on the balance sheet, excluding the transfer price. Eddie Howe is preparing a minor exodus at St James’ Park, hoping to learn from last season’s blunders.

According to Scottish media, Martin Dubravka could join Celtic, with Paul Dummett and Matt Ritchie among the high-profile departures from the retained list revealed last month. Target has made only 20 Premier League appearances since joining from Aston Villa permanently two years ago.