Newcastle United are reportedly set to seal their first signing of the upcoming summer transfer window after agreeing a fee for Matt Targett...

What's the talk?

According to the Daily Mail, the Magpies are expecting to complete a deal to sign the Englishman on a permanent basis from Aston Villa at the end of his loan spell.

The report claims that the Toon are on the verge of securing a £15m swoop for the former Southampton full-back, making him their first addition ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.

Eddie Howe will be over the moon

This update will surely leave Newcastle manager Eddie Howe over the moon, as it means that the left-back position is not a cause for concern heading into next season.

Instead of worrying about who his first-choice will be in that position, the 44-year-old can plan ahead knowing that Targett will be slotting in on the left of the backline.

The likes of Matt Ritchie, Jamal Lewis and Paul Dummett are also at the club and can provide competition for the 26-year-old's place, which means that there is no need for any more signings in that area of the pitch after this deal is completed.

Upon Targett's arrival at St James' Park on loan, Howe said: "We have gone into this transfer window with a plan to add strong competition in specific areas of the team and Matt will be a fantastic option for us on the left.

"He has important Premier League experience and know-how at this level, so I'm really pleased we've been able to add him to the squad."

These comments highlight how highly the Newcastle head coach rates the defender, whose performances in the top flight have lived up to the hype. He has proven himself to be a reliable option in the Premier League, with an average SofaScore rating of 6.87 across 26 appearances for Villa and Newcastle this term.

The left-back has created 1.3 chances per game and showcased his defensive quality with an impressive 3.3 tackles and interceptions per match. He is a modern day full-back who can excel at both ends of the pitch, and this is why the ex-Cherries boss will surely love to keep him heading into next season.

At the age of 26, the Magpies can get many more years of service out of Targett, whose performances on the pitch suggest that he could nail down the left-back spot for the foreseeable future at St James' Park. Signing a player who could be a regular for the next four or five seasons for £15m seems like a bargain on paper, and Howe will be delighted with this prospective deal.

AND in other news, NUFC now eye swoop for "breathtaking" £36m-rated phenomenon, he could be Ginola 2.0...