With a season-long loan agreement for a Newcastle United player, Middlesbrough is about to finalize their most recent summer acquisition.
With two victories out of two in their first two Championship games, Middlesbrough has had a great start to life under Rob Edwards.
This weekend, Middlesbrough head to Norwich City for a clash against fellow promotion hopefuls.
However, the transfer business at the Riverside Stadium has dominated the pre-match headlines, both regarding incomings and outgoings.
Ahead of the Canaries clash, EFL Analysis can confirm that Middlesbrough are set to sign a Newcastle United figure on loan.
Middlesbrough to sign Newcastle United defender Matt Targett on loan
Middlesbrough’s summer transfer business has ramped up in recent weeks, with multiple impressive recruits added to Edwards’ squad.
Middlesbrough signed defender Adilson Malanda from Charlotte FC, but the centre-back will return on loan to the MLS outfit until October.
Also, Middlesbrough have signed Sverre Nypan on loan from Manchester City for the 2025/26 season, with the starlet serving as a short-term replacement for Hayden Hackney as his Middlesbrough exit looms.
Throughout the summer window, Middlesbrough have been targeting left-backs to suit Edwards’ wing-back system, and now they appear to have found a solution from their North East neighbours, Newcastle United.
EFL Analysis understands that Middlesbrough are close to signing Matt Targett on loan from Newcastle.
Our Chief Football Correspondent, Graeme Bailey revealed: “Boro need help at left wing-back and their deal for Max Arfsten is not close, so they are looking to bring in Targett.”
Middlesbrough had a £2.25m bid rejected for Arfsten from Columbus Crew, but with that move not materialising due to the MLS outfit’s reluctance to sell the wing-back, Boro have dipped into the loan market.
Bailey added: “Targett is a Premier League performer who really would add depth to the squad and offer real quality to that side for Edwards.”
Targett joined the Magpies initially on loan from Aston Villa in January 2022, before the move was made permanent the following summer for £15m after the Englishman played a vital role in the Magpies dodging relegation under Eddie Howe.
Eddie Howe has already told Rob Edwards what Middlesbrough will get from Matt Targett
Targett has been hampered by injuries over recent seasons, which have limited his appearances to just single digits over the last two campaigns.
The 29-year-old featured seven times in 2023/24, and only five times last season, but he appears to be back to full fitness after scoring in a 2-2 pre-season friendly draw against Espanyol earlier this month.
In September last year, Howe praised Targett during his miserable 12 months with several fitness issues.
In a Newcastle press conference, Howe said: “It’s been tough for Matt. Previous to those spells out he had been a really reliable performer for us.
“He had been someone who’d come in during a relegation battle and really solidified that left-back position. He consistently played to a really high level. He’s a really good professional.
“This has been a really difficult time for him. The time he has spent injured has been hugely frustrating for him and for us because we’ve missed a very, very good player.
“Matt is technically, for me, one of the best players in the squad. We’ve really missed him and would love to get him back fit on a consistent basis.”
