Tuesday 30 December 2014 08:41, UK
Southampton teenager Matt Targett is hoping the club sign Toby Alderweireld on a permanent contract.
Belgium international Alderweireld has been a revelation for Saints since joining them from Atletico Madrid in the summer, a rock at centre-back or, when required, as a holding midfielder.
He was at the heart of a backs-to-the-wall effort on Sunday as Southampton held leaders Chelsea to a 1-1 draw at St Mary’s.
Targett said: "He is a great guy and on the pitch he is amazing. He would be a great signing and I hope we can sign him.
"He has been amazing since he came in. Week in, week out he has been consistently one of the best players for us. He was a great signing, he has done really well."
Targett was making his first Premier League start against the Blues and found himself splashed all over the back pages.
Cesc Fabregas was clipped by the teenager but referee Anthony Taylor booked the Spaniard for diving instead of awarding a penalty - a decision Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho called scandalous and claimed was part of a "clear campaign" against his side.
"It was certainly different," Targett said. "It was a hard game for my first Premier League start. It was good, though. I enjoyed it. The last half-hour we were hanging on a little bit. It was difficult but I am glad we got the point."
That may have been Targett's first league start, but that has not stopped reported interest from the likes of Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City.
Such talk was halted a few weeks ago when he penned a five-year deal at his boyhood club, with his intention now to thrive at left-back like fellow academy graduates Gareth Bale, Luke Shaw and Wayne Bridge.
"It is difficult to follow them because they are world-class players," Targett said. "Hopefully if I just carry on doing what I am doing I can hopefully get to their standard. I was delighted to sign a new five-year contract. I am looking forward to the next five years."
Targett knows patience will be required in the short term, given the fine performances of summer arrival Bertrand.
The on-loan Chelsea full-back is likely to regain his place in the starting line-up when Arsenal visit on New Year's Day - a match the teenager is confident Saints can win.
"We can definitely beat them," he said. "On our day, we can beat anyone. “We are at home and reach that standard we set early in the season, we can beat anyone."
