NEWCASTLE UNITED are ready to move into the final stage of talks with Leeds United over the sale of Matt Targett.

Leeds are hoping the push through the signing of the left-back before the weekend, with Newcastle having signalled a willingness to allow Targett to leave this month.

While the 29-year-old has returned to full fitness after his latest injury absence, he has been unable to force his way into Eddie Howe’s plans.

Lewis Hall has established himself as Newcastle’s first-choice left-back this season, with both Dan Burn and Kieran Trippier able to provide cover on the left of the back four if needed.

Targett, who joined Newcastle on a permanent basis in the summer of 2022 for a fee of around £12m following a successful initial loan spell from Aston Villa, is due to enter the final year of his current contract at the end of the season.

He will not be offered a new deal, so Magpies officials have decided to cash in now rather than wait until the summer, by which point his value will potentially have decreased.

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Leeds are looking for a low-cost replacement for Junior Firpo, who has entered the final six months of his deal at Elland Road, and had been in talks with Nordsjaelland over Daniel Svensson.

However, with Svensson looking likely to join Portuguese side Benfica, the Leeds hierarchy have focused their attention on Targett.

Talks are planned that should pave the way for Targett to complete a move to West Yorkshire. He would be joining a Leeds side that currently sit at the top of the Championship table, two points clear of second-placed Sheffield United.

Targett has suffered a series of injuries during his time on Tyneside that have prevented him from being able to hold down a regular place in the first team.

Foot and hamstring problems kept him on the sidelines for big chunks of last season, and earlier this term, a particularly bad eczema flare-up kept him on the sidelines for around a month.

He has made a total of 44 senior appearances in a Newcastle shirt, and if he does join Leeds ahead of next Monday’s transfer deadline, he will not be replaced in the current window.

Miguel Almiron’s return to Atalanta United will also be completed ahead of Monday night, with Newcastle having agreed to a financial package worth around £11m for the Paraguayan forward.

Almiron’s representatives have spent the last few days putting the finishing touches to the long-term deal that will see the 30-year-old return to the MLS after six years on Tyneside.