A huge Newcastle United transfer claim has emerged on the club's pursuit of Renan Lodi heading into the summer transfer window...
What's the talk?
Reporter Jacque Talbot has revealed that the Brazilian defender is the club's number one target in that area of the pitch.
The Magpies will be pursuing a deal to sign the Atletico Madrid man in the coming months and will then look to snap up Matt Targett if they fail to bring their first choice in.
He told GIVEMESPORT: "I’m told that with Targett, it’s going to be more of a secondary option. So, they’ve put the feelers out for Lodi, who’s their main priority signing for that left-back side. And if that falls through, then they’re going to go back to Targett.”
Eddie Howe will be buzzing
The Toon head coach will be buzzing with this news as it shows that PIF and Dan Ashworth are not willing to settle for the safe option.
Targett spent the second half of the 2021/22 campaign on loan from Aston Villa and he was a solid performer at left-back. He ended the season with an excellent SofaScore rating of 6.92 for his parent club and the Magpies combined in the Premier League, making an impressive 3.8 tackles and interceptions per game as he showcased his strong defending.
However, he is not a high-level left-back when it comes to crossing the halfway line and attacking the opposition's goal.
As per FBRef, he ranks in the 62nd percentile or lower in shot-creating actions, non-penalty goals, non-penalty Expected Goals + Expected Assists, assists, and dribbles completed per 90 in the last 365 days among left-back's in Europe's top five leagues.
Lodi, meanwhile, ranks in the 74th percentile or higher in all of those categories and in the 92nd percentile or higher for both assists and non-penalty goals per 90.
The 24-year-old managed three goals and four assists in 17 starts in La Liga and the Champions League for Atletico as he proved that he can make a big impact in the final third. He has the quality to score and assist goals from full-back and this means that he can offer Newcastle another attacking threat in the Premier League next season.
However, he is a riskier signing than Targett as he has not played in England before and it is not a guarantee that he will adapt to English football.
That is the risk Newcastle have to take if they want to elevate their attack with a talented left-back option to provide a threat from the defence and that is why Howe will be buzzing with the club's pursuit of Lodi.