A huge Newcastle United claim has emerged regarding their plans for their left-back position heading into the summer transfer window...

What's the talk?

Journalist Jacque Talbot has claimed that the Tyneside club may look to strike deals for both Renan Lodi and Matt Targett in the coming months.

The reporter has also stated that the Magpies are not the only team interested in landing the former, as some Serie A clubs are also looking at the Brazilian.

Talbot tweeted: "Now would you pile on me if I told you that one source did say that both Lodi and Targett could happen? Lodi has known to be a very attacking full-back, but he has been played on the left-wing position as well - it's actually where he's scored three goals from this season."

This was in response to another one of his tweets, which read: "Told nothing in the reports Renan Lodi and Newcastle will be meeting next week. The defender is on the club's list but there's interest from Italy as well, a country he has a passport for..."

Supporters will be excited

Newcastle supporters will surely be excited by this claim, as signing both Lodi and Targett would be outstanding business by the club.

Eddie Howe would have two quality left-back options to pick from throughout the season and they would be able to push each other on the training pitch to avoid complacency.

Targett is a proven Premier League performer who has shown that he can be a solid presence in the number three role. In 33 top-flight appearances in 2021/22, he averaged an excellent SofaScore rating of 6.96 as he made 3.8 tackles and interceptions per game.

He is tried and trusted and would be a sensible signing by PIF if they make his loan from Aston Villa a permanent deal this summer.

Lodi would a riskier, albeit more exciting, addition. In the recently-concluded La Liga season, the Brazilian excelled in the final third with two goals and two assists in 13 starts for Atletico Madrid, creating three 'big chances' in his limited time on the pitch.

However, he only made 1.5 tackles and interceptions per game and has never played in the Premier League. This means that he would not be the safe, sensible option that Targett would be, and this may be an exciting prospect for Newcastle fans as they might not know quite what to expect from the 24-year-old.

Lodi's attacking statistics suggest that he enjoys getting forward, with Talbot citing that the Atletico defender is capable of playing out wide, and this will delight supporters who want to see an attacking style of play.

Therefore, fans will be excited by the prospect of both players coming in, as Howe would have the reliable presence of Targett for tight matches and a potential maverick in Lodi in games where Newcastle want to attack down the flanks.

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