It’s well and truly been a mixed seven days for the Plymouth Argyle Football Club with the January Transfer Window now open and dealings in full flow.
Following a comfortable 3-0 win over a very much lacklustre Bury side at the weekend, the Green Army were swiftly brought the unfortunate, yet expected news that midfielder Toumani Diagouraga would be set to leave the club following the completion of his three month deal with the club. There is no debate that the former Leeds United man had become somewhat of a fan favourite during his short stint in Devon whilst representing the invigorated Argyle side that have now lost just twice in their last 15 games since his debut in October.
The news that he wanted to be back up North with his young family was frustrating, yet perfectly understandable and will certainly leave a few fans worried of what the future holds and whether results will once again dwindle following his departure to Fleetwood Town. Unless Derek Adams signs a replacement before this weekend’s trip to Doncaster Rovers, it seems likely that Yann Songo’o will join David Fox and Antoni Sarcevic in midfield with Songo’o at the base and the other two pushing on slightly. The only argument against this would be how it would primarily affect Fox with the 34-year-old putting in some of his best performances for the club in recent weeks playing in that deeper role. Sarcevic impressed against Bury at the weekend and was rewarded with a goal but as we saw earlier in the season the three in this combination wasn’t always the best fit, although they now have better players in front of them to feed the ball to which wasn’t the case before.
The other possible set-up could see Graham Carey join the midfield, as he has a couple of times this season rather than his regular wide role. With Fox playing deep, this would given the Irishman more of a licence to roam as he usual. This eventuality would most likely see Jake Jervis and Ruben Lamerias out wide and for them to interchange throughout the game, as games such as Oldham and Bury have shown how effective it is having two creative players either side.
Hopefully such personnel will be added to over the course of the next few weeks with Adams stating that he would like another three or four players to add to his side. A forward is likely to be high on the list of priorities with the Pilgrims already having loaned Alex Fletcher to non-league side Torquay United and Celtic’s Nadir Ciftci’s loan spell being ended early and the Turk instead now on his way to Motherwell. With fellow forward Nathan Blissett also rumoured to be a target of many other lower division sides including Wrexham, it will be very much exciting to see who comes through the Home Park door to help ease the burden on the likes of Ryan Taylor and Carey for goals. The club have been linked with a few forwards including Coventry City’s Marc McNulty, although it is highly unlikely the club would be willing to shell out a transfer fee on such an in-form player that would inevitably be the highest they’ve spent on a player for many years.
As far as transfer news goes there has been little to report other than the odd rumour flying about from social media outlets with Wigan’s Jack Bryne allegedly on Adams’ radar. The midfielder spent the first half of the season on-loan at fellow League One side Oldham, also registering four goals from 17 appearances. He appeared as his side went down 4-1 at Home Park in December, but despite the result looked a calm, composed figure on the ball and often frustrated Argyle and looked much like a player you would rather have playing for you rather than against. With Wigan already having added Hearts’ Jamie Walker this transfer window, Bryne’s stock at the DW Stadium looks lower than before.
Another position worth looking at this window would certainly be at centre-back with very little competition in the position. Ryan Edwards and Sonny Bradley have spent the season virtually unopposed in that position with Jakub Sokolik becoming a forgotten figure at Home Park. The Czech looks likely to move on in the summer if not the current window having made just two league appearances this season with the last coming in September. With Songo’o able to deputise in the position but primarily a defensive midfielder since joining the club it certainly wouldn’t hurt to get some quality and competition for places going to prevent any complacency heading into the second half of the season.
With a somewhat dull transfer window for Argyle fans so far, once can only assume that signings, rumours and deals are not far on the horizon.