Aston Villa Opinion: Matt Targett could prove to be an upgrade on Neil Taylor
According to The Sun, newly-promoted outfit, Aston Villa are weighing up a move for Southampton left-back Matt Targett, with reports claiming that Lions manager Dean Smith is keen to increase competition for places on the left-hand side of the pitch.
Villa are not the only club to have been credited with an interest in Targett, though, with recently-relegated Fulham also hot on trail of the versatile 23-year-old. (h/t Sun)
The Sun understands that Southampton are likely to hold out for a fee in the region of £10 million to part ways with their highly-rated academy product.
Targett made 16 appearances in the Premier League for the Saints this past season and contributed with a goal and 3 assists, with new manager Ralph Hasenhuttl using the 23-year-old in a left wing-back role. However, despite all the promise that the youngster showed on the pitch, he largely played second-fiddle to first-choice Ryan Bertrand.
A youth product of Southampton, Targett broke into the first-team picture at St.Mary’s in the 2013-14 season before eventually making his competitive debut for the Saints in the 2014-15 campaign.
Regarded as a promising youngster with a lot of potential, the 23-year-old has only played a bit-part role at his boyhood club over the past five seasons or so, and one can get the feeling that he needs to play more regularly to reach greater heights.
Targett has made a total of 63 appearances for Southampton in all competitions till date, while also spending the 2017-18 season on loan at Fulham in the Championship.
The left-back produced some fine displays at Craven Cottage and played a key role in the Cottagers promotion-winning campaign, so Fulham’s interest in him sounds justified, given that Scott Parker’s side are set for another long and hard slog in the second-tier next season.
To put things into perspective, Aston Villa striking a deal for Matt Targett could prove to be a shrewd move by Dean Smith. The Lions have already set the ball rolling in the summer transfer window with the
£4 million acquisition of Birmingham City playmaker Jota, whilst the also forking out £8 million to sign winger Anwar El Ghazi permanently.
However, with Villa set to compete in the Premier League next term, the Lions also need to prioritise the acquisition of a few fresh faces at the back in a bid to add more depth and quality to their backline.
The release of experienced players like Alan Hutton and Mile Jedinak is a clear demonstration of the club’s ambitions in the top-flight, and while they are likely to have the services of Ahmed El Mohamady and Frederic Guilbert at right-back next season, left-back is an area which requires investment.
The departure of Hutton has left only Neil Taylor as a viable option of the left-hand side of the backline and that is exactly why the arrival of Matt Targett could possibly solve a lot of problems for Smith. The 23-year-old’s wealth of Premier League experience coupled with his versatility to play further up the pitch as a midfielder should make him a tailor-made signing for the Lions.
Taylor is already 30 and given that he blew somewhat hold and cold in the Championship last season, Targett would increase competition for places and add much-needed depth in a key area of the pitch.
Moreover, the Southampton man can prove to be an upgrade on the veteran, owing to his better aerial ability and well-rounded passing and crossing attributes. The 23-year-old averaged 1.7 tackles, 1.7 interceptions, 1.4 crosses and 1.4 key passes per game in the Premier League last term, figures which speak volumes of his abilities as a modern-day offensive-minded full-back.
Tyrone Mings and Kortney Hause, who were on loan from Bournemouth and Wolves respectively, played a key role for Villa at the back this past season, but the Lions are yet to secure the future of their star loanees.
Both the players are capable of filling in at left-back, but they are more natural centre-backs by trade, and Targett would still be a wonderful addition to the ranks even if Villa sign them up permanently.
To Read More Aston Villa News, Click Here:- Latest Aston Villa News
Keeping that in mind, Villa should leave no stone unturned in their £10 million-pursuit of the Southampton star this summer in a bid to enhance their chances of survival in the top-flight.
