Chris Waugh has been speaking on Pod on the Tyne about a transfer target Newcastle United decided against pursuing in the January window.
Newcastle and Eddie Howe clearly had a plan in their mind heading into the transfer window, and that was to improve their backline – which is what they certainly did, with three new defenders arriving, including their first centre-back signing since 2018.
Who is a better left back?
Targett!
Lewis!
On Deadline Day, Newcastle managed to sign both Dan Burn and Matt Targett, however, the latter may not have necessarily been the club’s first-choice left-back, as 90min reported they were in talks with Sassuolo for ‘long-term target’ Rogerio.
Waugh has revealed that the Magpies were indeed interested in the full-back.
“They did look at other left-back options. My understanding is that Rogerio of Sassuolo, who Newcastle have looked at in previous windows, he’s been on [Steve] Nickson’s list for a while – he was another person that they looked at.”
TIF Thoughts on Newcastle’s defensive transfer business…
While signing someone such as Rogerio, who is a regular in the Serie A, may have been perceived as a more exciting signing, bringing in Targett, who was voted Aston Villa’s Players’ Player of the Season last campaign and has 126 games of Premier League experience under his belt arguably appears a much smarter signing.
The deal to bring in Targett was just a straight loan with no option or obligation for Newcastle to buy come the end of the season, which works for everyone, as Villa and the player may be able to get better options or hike up their price if he performs well, while the Magpies get a solid left-back for the remainder of their relegation battle.
In other news: ‘From my contacts at Newcastle’ – Luke Edwards reveals what PIF’s January budget was