With many thanks to @OffTheLineBlog for their kind contribution, a look at Plymouth Argyle’s main vacanies in the January window and those who might fill them…

With just under a week to go before the end of the January transfer window, it is fair to say that Plymouth Argyle have a lot of work to do. 

So far, the transfer window has been a major cause of frustration for The Pilgrims. They have seen defender Lewis Gibson depart the football club – joining Preston North End – as well as midfielder Adam Forshaw departing for fellow Championship side Blackburn Rovers. Meanwhile, they have suffered the blow of losing defender Brendan Galloway (likely until the end of the season). If they are to get themselves out of the relegation zone and have a strong end to the campaign they look decidedly light on numbers and indeed Championship quality.

Especially, when you compare Plymouth Argyle’s squad to that of the other sides in and around the relegation places, and the work that they’ve done in the transfer window, Argyle are without doubt playing catch up at this point. Considering that The Pilgrims have already got five loanees on their books, while they could – of course – still add in the loan market and give themselves the dilemma of match day squad selection headaches, the task that faces Argyle and new manager Milan Muslic is all the more difficult.

Even more so when you consider that even despite the fact they broke their transfer record recently – with the signing of midfielder Michael Baidoo – Argyle remain one of the lowest spending sides in the Championship. In short, the work that Argyle are going to have to do between now and the end of the window is going to be the biggest test of their ambition and transfer acumen for a number of years.

With that in mind, I have picked out four deals that I think would address some of The Pilgrims’ shortcomings between now and the end of the campaign.

Wes Harding (Millwall – transfer) 

If Plymouth Argyle are going to get out of the situation they find themselves in, I think that Plymouth Argyle may have to slightly change up their tactics in the transfer market; instead, favouring largely British-based, experienced players that know the Championship. While the suggestion itself may not be all that flashy, one player that I feel would actually represent a useful signing for The Pilgrims is experienced defender Wes Harding.
Harding is currently on the books at fellow Championship side Millwall, albeit has found his game time somewhat limited so far this season and all of the rumours that are coming out of The Den are that Harding will be on the move in the January window. Plymouth Argyle need experience at the back that can provide a safe and reliable pair of hands upon which Argyle can build the foundations to get results at this level, and I think Harding fits the bill. He is capable of playing as a right-back, a right wing-back or can be used as a right-sided centre-back, and so gives Muslic options about which to make use of him.

 

One thing that I think particularly works in Harding’s favour is that he is both at the upper end of the age range and so provides them with the type of experience, leadership and decision-making that they need. Argyle have a largely youthful squad, and so strengthening the quality and depth of the leadership group within the squad is key if they are to navigate such a tricky period. He is out of contract at the end of the season, and Millwall’s willingness to let him go may mean that Argyle would be able to make a move for him and secure his services for a reduced fee. In terms of picking up a player that has been there and done it in the Championship – and, if they do go down – someone that has been promoted out of League One, I don’t think that Argyle would find themselves many better options on the market currently as far as directly relatable Championship knowhow is concerned.

Amadou Mbengue (Reading – transfer)
So far this term, Adam Randell has found life tough; he has had to single-handedly play as a #6 and a #8 in midfield for Argyle. He’s the one often tasked with manning the fort defensively in front of the defence, getting attacks going as the key creator in midfield, and while I rate Randell very highly I do feel he could do with a more natural defensive midfielder alongside him to share the workload and responsibility.
One player that I would be looking at – and someone I suggested a while back for The Pilgrims to try and lure to Home Park – is Reading’s Amadou Mbengue. The Royals are not in the strongest position financially amid continued struggles off the field with the ownership and no takeover having seemingly been finalised, and so if Argyle are to find an option that is affordable form them then opting for a player like Mbengue may be worth a look. He’s out of contract at the end of 2024-25, with the midfielder likely to move on for a free in the summer, and so Reading may well entertain an offer for his services.
Most importantly, Mbengue does have experience of playing in the Championship and so The Pilgrims would be getting a player that is aware of the challenges, the intensity and the physicality of the division. In a young and struggling Reading side, Mbengue was one that particularly stood out as a combative defensive midfielder that played with a maturity well beyond his years. He is only 23 years of age, but has been capped at youth level for his country (Senegal) and has just shy of 100 appearances to his name in English football over 2-and-a-bit seasons.

 

One benefit that I do think works in Mbengue’s favour which may be desirable to The Pilgrims is the fact that he can be used as a #6 in midfield, but he can also be used as part of the back three. In what is a fairly small Argyle squad and low in terms of depth of quality, the fact that Mbengue is able to cover two different bases would be invaluable for The Pilgrims. He is a robust and powerful operator that is good in the tackle and does the basics of defending well – something Argyle do not – and has been well-coached at Reading. I think he’d be a smart investment.

Abu Francis (Cercle Brugge – transfer)
If Plymouth Argyle are going to get themselves out of trouble and stay in the division, the signings that they – touch wood – make in January are going to have to hit the ground running; they don’t have the luxury of time to adjust. One of the best ways – potentially – to achieve that is to look at his former club and try to tempt a player to Home Park from Belgium. One player who I’d be quite excited for The Pilgrims to sign is midfielder Abu Francis.
In terms of the transfer deals that Plymouth Argyle have tended to do this term, opting for young, cost-effective, long-term investments from the continent has been very much the strategy that has been adopted. As such, I don’t think it is wildly wide of the mark that they’ll look to try and exploit the European market again, especially with rumours of The Pilgrims having reportedly bids batted away for Mike Eerdhuijzen and Maksym Talovierov. Therefore, if they are to continue exploiting that avenue of investment then Francis may be a player of interest.
One area of the pitch in which Argyle do need to focus efforts in addressing is the midfield; they needed to add some energy and athleticism, with Argyle having looked too passive with and without the ball for my liking this term. However, Francis is a player that very much fits that profile of being a high-energy, box-to-box, powerful, pressing midfielder that is capable in both phases of play. Argyle have lacked that aggression in the middle of the park, the ball-carrying capabilities centrally and the box-crashing qualities to get a goal, and on all three counts I feel Francis has a nice balance of skillsets to provide The Pilgrims with a solution to their midfield’s dysfunctional nature.
Crucially, Francis would give Argyle that all-round operator that can knit the midfield together. They’ve lacked the pace and power to handle the intensity and physicality of the Championship, but Francis is a good athlete, and also a good size to provide an aerial presence and rangy profile which they’ve perhaps not got in their midfield ranks. All of the qualities that I feel Argyle are deficient of in midfield, Francis represents – for me – a suitable candidate.
Ross Stewart (Southampton – loan)
The final player on this list is perhaps the most ambitious suggestion, but one that I feel could well be transformative to the way that Argyle function in the final third. They have missed a “proper” centre forward this term that they can build the attack around, and to give them an outlet when under pressure. One player that I think they could try to sign – albeit more likely on just a loan deal – is Southampton’s Ross Stewart.
Given the position in the table that The Saints currently find themselves in and their need for Premier League ready level players at this moment, the chances of Stewart getting a regular playing berth between now and the end of the season under new manager Ivan Juric are low. As such, with The saints likely to have to try and do some business of their own between now and the end of the January window, Stewart may well be a player that is allowed to leave the club on loan in search of regular minutes. If that is the case, with few clubs in their league in need of a centre forward of Stewart’s profile, he may well represent a useful option for The Pilgrims.
Argyle are likely to have to take one or two risks in the remainder of the window; they are not in a position to be able to go and hand pluck signings. They will no doubt have to take a chance on a player that perhaps other teams may not. Given the injury record of Ross Stewart – both at Sunderland, and now with Southampton – that may well put some sides off going for him and thus The Pilgrims may be able to steal a march on others to land him.
In terms of what The Pilgrims need at the top end of the pitch, Stewart ticks all of the boxes. He is a strong, imposing, rangy forward that is capable with his back to goal, has good link-up play, and provides a penalty box presence. He is very much a player that falls under the category of being a facilitator that gets the best out of the players around him. At his best and when fit, I think he’d be perfect.