Leeds United could help former Aston Villa defender reignite career after injury hell
Former Aston Villa defender Matt Targett is the subject of an enquiry from promotion chasing Leeds United before the January transfer window deadline on Monday evening, according to reports.
Left-back Targett joined Villa from Southampton for a fee in the region of £15m in the summer of 2019 following their promotion to the Premier League under Dean Smith; he made 89 appearances in a claret and blue shirt, scoring memorable winners against Brighton and Leicester City, the last in the semi-finals of the EFL Cup. He also bagged in a victory at Crystal Palace at the very beginning of Steven Gerrard's reign.
Gerrard, though, signed Lucas Digne in his first transfer window, from Everton, and Targett was allowed to join top flight rivals Newcastle United on an initial loan deal. Newcastle made that move a permanent arrangement the following summer, but Targett has been hit hard by injury misfortune ever since.
READ MORE: Club owner publicly confirms he has struck transfer agreement with Aston Villa
READ MORE: Joao Felix to Aston Villa transfer latest and the issue with Chelsea to be resolved
Indeed he has made just 21 appearances in the Premier League for the Magpies in the two and a half years since because of injury problems. Indeed Targett's appearance against Villa, on Boxing Day, was his first run-out for 13 months. Since, Eddie Howe has only offered Targett minutes against Bromley in the FA Cup.
Howe has England hopeful Lewis Hall as his first choice left back, while centre half Dan Burn has also helped out in that position in the absences of Targett. Now Leeds, the Athletic claims, have enquired about the possibility of bringing Targett to Elland Road this coming week to aid their promotion push. The 29-year-old has 18 months remaining on his Tyneside contract.