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Southampton: Fulham to move for Targett again in January

By Marc Walker

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 02: Matt Targett of Southampton runs with the ball under pressure from Tom Davies of Everton during the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Everton and Southampton at Goodison Park on October 2, 2018 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 02: Matt Targett of Southampton runs with the ball under pressure from Tom Davies of Everton during the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Everton and Southampton at Goodison Park on October 2, 2018 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images) /
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Southampton defender Matt Targett looks to be a transfer target for Fulham again in January as they bid to shore up their defence.

According to a report from the Evening Standard, the Cottagers want to re-sign the 23-year-old from Saints after struggling defensively in their first games back in the Premier League.

They currently sit bottom of the table and have collected only five points from a possible 36 so far this season.

Saints haven’t been much better and find themselves just outside the relegation zone, and Targett may well want to move back to London to find regular first-team football again.

Fulham failed with a £15m bid to sign him during the summer after his impressive five month loan spell with them in their promotion winning campaign.

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LONDON, ENGLAND – APRIL 03: Matt Targett of Fulham during the Sky Bet Championship match between Fulham and Leeds United at Craven Cottage on April 3, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – APRIL 03: Matt Targett of Fulham during the Sky Bet Championship match between Fulham and Leeds United at Craven Cottage on April 3, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images) /

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The former England youth international has just 252 minutes of action to his name since the beginning of the season and that has included two starts in the Carabao Cup.

He finds himself stuck behind current first-choice left-back Ryan Bertrand and opportunities to play in the league likely to come as a result of injuries.

Back in 2017/18, Targett had perhaps the best spell of his career when on-loan at Craven Cottage. He made 21 appearances and became a key part of their impressive side that eventually won promotion via the play-offs.

With Fulham clearly keen to sign him in the summer, he will have been disappointed that a move didn’t materialise once he had proved himself there.

Perhaps January would be the best time for Saints and Targett to part ways. It will be a difficult decision from both parties after he came through the famed youth ranks at St Mary’s, but a permanent move would certainly help him reach his full potential as a player.

If he is to move on, Saints will need to find a replacement to provide back-up for Bertrand with Sam McQueen currently with a long-term injury on-loan at Middlesbrough.

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