"Newcastle's priority right now..." - Journalist drops big transfer claim with £50m ace on radar

Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe’s ‘priority right now’ is to tie Matt Targett down to a permanent St James’ Park deal despite reports of a big-money bid for Arsenal left-back Kieran Tierney being in the offing, according to journalist Pete O’Rourke.

Targett joined the Magpies on loan from Premier League rivals Aston Villa in January and there are question marks as to whether he will remain on Tyneside.

Targett has confirmed that he wants to remain at Newcastle heading into next season but admitted the decision is out of his hands.

Howe, meanwhile, was non-committal when asked whether the 26-year-old has a future at St James’ Park as he simply stated ‘we’ll wait and see’.

It comes after it was revealed a broad agreement is already in place for Newcastle to sign Targett for £15million.

But Howe may have turned his attentions towards another left-back as the Magpies are reportedly pondering over whether to lodge a £50million bid for Arsenal’s Tierney.

The Tyneside giants are able to splash the cash as last October’s £305million takeover by the Saudi Arabia-based Public Investment Fund resulted in Newcastle becoming the richest club in world football.

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O’Rourke is puzzled by Newcastle’s reported pursuit of Tierney despite the Scotsman showing he is a talented left-back.

The journalist believes the Magpies are, instead, doubling down on ensuring Targett will remain at St James’ Park.

O’Rourke told GIVEMESPORT: “It would be a strange target. Obviously, we have seen Kieran Tierney, when fit, is a very key part of that Arsenal defence. I think they missed him in the last few weeks of the season when he was injured and that contributed to them missing