‘Way off’… Manager suggests Celtic will not be signing £15m player before deadline day

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With Celtic’s recent injury to Greg Taylor pressing the need to add another left-back to the squad, reports this morning emerged that Newcastle full-back, Matt Targett, is on Brendan Rodgers’ radar.

Taylor has been excellent for Celtic over the past three seasons and his form has kept the likes of Alexandro Bernabei out of the team.

However, due to his recent injury and Bernabei clearly not fancied, means that Rodgers now finds the hunt for a new left-back ever more pressing before the January window closes on Thursday night.

That led to reports this morning that Targett was being looked at by Celtic for a loan move. Signed for £15m from Aston Villa, Targett has made seven appearances for The Magpies this season but boss, Eddie Howe, has rubbished the claims he could head to Glasgow’s east end.

Howe said [Chronicle Live], “Incorrect, way off. Matt’s injured. He’s still got some time to go on that.

“He’s a big part of what we’re doing.”

Targett is currently suffering from a hamstring injury back in November against Manchester United in the Carabao Cup.

Predicted to be out for up to three months [BBC], the 29-year-old would not be ready for first-team action until at least the end of February.

So why reports suggested the 28-year-old could be heading to Celtic are really quite bizarre considering Rodgers needs a first-team ready and fully fit left-back.

Targett has been in and out of the Newcastle team since joining back in June 2022. Making 19 appearances last season and 16 the season before, he has struggled to hold down a regular spot in Eddie Howe’s side. [Transfermarkt]

So for now, this is a story that can be put to bed but there is little doubt that as the window’s minutes tick down to a close, there will be more stories linking Celtic to players over the coming days.

In other news, ‘Major signings’… Celtic given exciting transfer update before deadline day