Last week, the Magpies were considering offers for Targett, with Leeds United having been heavily touted as a potential destination for the defender.
Watford became the latest club to make a move earlier this weekend, offering a loan deal that would have seen Targett move to Vicarage Road for the remainder of the campaign.
However, while the 29-year-old’s departure was looking likely a week-or-so ago, the situation has changed with Lloyd Kelly on the verge of completing a move to Juventus.
Kelly is due to travel to Turin today to tie up a switch to the Serie A side that will involve an initial loan deal with an obligation to complete a permanent transfer for around £15m provided certain conditions, which Newcastle fully expect to be fulfilled, are met.
With Kelly heading through the exit door, Eddie Howe does not want to lose another defender who can play at centre-half, but who is also capable of covering for first-choice left-back Lewis Hall.
Provided there are no unexpected hitches with Kelly’s departure, Targett will remain as part of Newcastle’s first-team squad for at least the remainder of the season.
The defender, who was not part of the matchday squad for yesterday’s home defeat to Bournemouth, has entered the final 18 months of his current contract at St James’ Park, having joined the Magpies on a permanent basis from Aston Villa in the summer of 2022.
