22-year-old fullback Matt Targett’s loan spell out at Championship side Fulham in 2017/18 certainly became productive for both parties but Southampton may have given themselves a problem this summer based on his performances for the Cottagers.
Having headed out to Craven Cottage in January on a half-season loan spell, our youngster made 20 starting appearances with a further showing from the bench and returned one goal as they lifted themselves into third place in the Championship table and went on to secure promotion back to the Premier League via the Play-Off Final and victory over Aston Villa.
Since his loan expired there have been plenty of reports linking Fulham with a permanent interest in him but there haven’t been any contract details to work from. The general consensus seems to be Targett would be open to a move as he got the greater game time he was hoping to get from the loan.
Source: football.london.
For many fans though, even acknowledging his desire to get greater game time, he’s very much considered one for the future and another product of our Academy, so they either want to see defence rejigged to accommodate him in advance of him becoming our first pick. If that means a full season away from us for another loan, simply so be it.
Totally agree.
— Jane (@blondiesaint) June 12, 2018
Nooo!! @Mattytargett you are a Saints player!
— Jo Tedd (@tedd_jo) June 11, 2018
Have to keep! Quality player!
— Nathan marks (@Nathanmarks333) June 11, 2018
Bright future, can easily get into the first team squad.
— Hemmels (@Hemmels) June 11, 2018
Not going anywhere
— Paul Silsbury (@PSilsbury) June 11, 2018
Shift Bertrand into a back 3 with Targett a left wingback, too talented to let go…
— JonsBet (@Jonsbet) June 12, 2018
Hope he stays????
— Terry (@ElTelofDaya) June 12, 2018
Now Bertrand isn’t going to Russia his head can’t get turned like others have been in the past i.e Lallana Clyne etc. So if he stays then first team football will be limited again for Matty. Would love Matt to stay but fully understand if he wants to leave ????
— Terry (@Bennett2Terry) June 12, 2018
STAY! He’s one of our own. Thanks Fulham for training him up but he’s staying put. He’ll probably succeed Bertrand once he leaves.
— Nate Dagogo (@ODagogo) June 12, 2018
He can go there on a season long loan if he likes.
— Shook1s (@Rideitnow) June 12, 2018
He's a quality player that we should keep but depends if we can keep Bertrand who I think played so well for us last season. He wants and need game time and can't bless him for that so fear he will go.
— Rich Prosser (@RichProsser) June 11, 2018