Leeds United make enquiry for £15m Newcastle United flop over January move - David Ornstein

 · January 28 2025, 13:30
Leeds United make enquiry for £15m Newcastle United flop over January move - David Ornstein
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With less than a week left of the January transfer window, Newcastle United really need to step things up if they want to clear the decks of the deadwood.

Miguel Almiron's move to Atlanta United is very close while the club have moved a few players out on loan.

However, there are still a few deals to be done if they can get them over the line in time. Lloyd Kelly still remains of interest to Juventus, although it's a coin toss as to whether or not the club would sanction his exit so soon after joining.

Garang Kuol is available for loan again and so too is Matt Targett who has fallen out of favour thanks to the remarkable rise of Lewis Hall.

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Leeds United have enquired the availability of Matt Targett

It seems harsh labelling Matt Targett as a £15 million flop (we got called out on it last time we did it), but the truth is, that's what he is.

His best spell as a Newcastle player came when he was here on loan from Aston Villa, then once we paid the fee for him, he became a liability. We get that it's not his fault, no player wants to be injured, and we do sympathise with him, but you can't label him a success if he's never on the pitch.

He is a good player, there's no doubt about that, and obviously Leeds United see that as they have made an enquiry over his availability this month according to The Athletic.

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Matt Targett's wages are going to be a huge sticking point

Matt Targett is on £100,000-a-week at Newcastle according to Capology, which could present a huge problem when trying to move him on.

Were Leeds to take Targett on loan this month, Newcastle would likely still have to pay the lion's share of his wages so that Leeds could afford the move.

When it comes to moving him on permanently, Targett will have to live with the reality that his wages are going to have to be cut dramatically, and that could be the thing that keeps him at Newcastle until his contract expires in 2026.

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