Fulham have signed Southampton’s blossoming youngster, Matt Targett, on loan for the rest of the season. The starlet is indeed very highly rated and is quite a decent addition to the ranks of the Cottagers. Targett has played 42 games in all competitions for the Saints and will certainly offer a different dimension to his new club.
Fulham are very much in the race for promotion as they are placed 7th in the Championship table with 45 points to their name after 28 games. They are in quite a decent form, having collected 16 points from their last 6 games in the English second division and with the January transfer window still very wide open, they must attempt to beef up their ranks further.
Targett, their newcomer, emerged through the youth ranks of Southampton and was handed his debut for the senior side back in 2014. A left-back by trade, he ticks a lot of boxes of a formidable fullback and has a bright future ahead of him with a proper development graph.
The 22-year-old is a modern-day fullback who is generally found galloping forward to cater to the offensive needs of his club. However, what is most appealing about him is the manner he tracks back and maintains a fine balance amongst his offensive and defensive endeavours. Despite his young age, he has shown immense maturity and calmness, is certainly good at holding the ball and no wonder his stocks are highly rated.
His attacking brand of football excites a lot of fans and the work-rate and confident attitude that he thrives on are simply exemplary. The Englishman had started just 2 games in the Premier League before his move and given that he needs to accumulate more experience by being on the pitch, a loan spell with a side fighting for promotion could be a beneficial move for him.
However, one would always expect a fullback to maintain a level of consistency while crossing into the box when they make their way forward but Targett is still far from being an accomplished player in doing that. He also needs to brush up the defensive aspect of his game as well especially in one-on-one situations. Nonetheless, he is still in his tender years and is learning. Further, it would also help his parent club in assessing his development and at the onset, it appears to be a decent deal for all the parties involved.
Stats Courtesy: Whoscored