Our View: Aston Villa are about to make a very odd deadline day decision

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There probably isn’t a better feeling for professional footballers than to be recognised by your own peers.

Aston Villa’s Matt Targett would have felt that only eight months ago when he was winning the club’s Players Player of the Season award for the 2020/21 campaign.

The 26-year-old was near-on faultless last season, as Villa secured an 11th place finish under the now-sacked, Dean Smith.

But just like the sacking of the club’s boyhood fan, things can change pretty quickly and that’s exactly what is happening with Targett.

90min report that Targett is closing in on a loan move to Newcastle United ahead of Monday’s 11pm deadline.

If that’s the case, then it will be a very odd move from Villa’s perspective and one that doesn’t make sense.

It would have been understandable if it was a straight-up transfer, but that doesn’t seem to be the case yet.

Therefore, it has to be questioned why Steven Gerrard is taking such a risk by allowing Targett to leave on a temporary basis.

When Lucas Digne was signed up by Gerrard, he pretty much straight away benched his previous number one left-back, for his January purchase.

For Villa fans, they saw that as great competition for that left-sided spot, one great attacking Frenchman battling against the grit and better defensive mind of the Englishman.

But if Targett leaves, then it’s Ashley Young and Kortney Hause who are the back-ups, and in truth, Villa then can’t afford Digne to get injured.

If Targett was sold, then many fans would understand because they are getting a fee for a player that is now playing second fiddle to a player that was brought in by Gerrard and suits his system a lot better.

Plus, it needs to be remembered, by allowing Targett to leave for St James’ Park, Villa are providing a helping hand to Eddie Howe and his side possibly staying up.

All of this could come back to bite Villa in the backside because, if the cash-rich Newcastle survive relegation, then they will be battling with those in Claret and Blue in the summer.

Both will be pushing for Europe and they might just be fishing in the same transfer pond, so either way, allowing Targett to leave to Newcastle on loan has to be questioned.