Journalist hints Newcastle players want PIF to keep 'outstanding' star

Ciaran Kelly has revealed who Newcastle United players and supporters want to be the club’s first summer signing.

With Newcastle looking to take the next step forward under the ownership of PIF – Amanda Staveley previously claimed they wanted to win the Premier League in the next 10 years – there could well be a squad overhaul this summer.

It has been reported that PIF will hand Eddie Howe an initial £60m budget to spend this summer, but that would obviously be bolstered by any potential player sales, with six stars tipped for an exit by The Chronicle.

They do appear to have one deal lined up already, with the Magpies able to sign Targett for £15m after his initial loan deal – something that his teammates would love to see activated according to Kelly, who said: “If supporters and Targett’s team-mates had their way, the man nicknamed ‘Tigs’ will be the club’s first signing this summer. Even Targett, himself, has said it would be ‘brilliant’ to extend his stay.”

TIF Thoughts on Targett’s future…

The full-back, who was recently described as ‘outstanding’ by Eddie Howe, has enjoyed a very successful time on Tyneside since arriving on in January, and has even admitted himself that everyone knows what he wants to happen, although a report this morning from the Northern Echo has contradicted that, claiming he wants to live further south.

It would be an interesting turn of events to go from players such as Bruno Guimaraes claiming Targett had to stay at the club, to wanting to live further away from Tyneside, although it appears the Magpies may have expected this as they are being constantly linked with Atletico Madrid’s Renan Lodi.

In other news: ‘Everything happens for a reason’ – Newcastle ace drops cryptic message on