Transfer Centre

31/08/23

Well, we finally have our first ‘five star’ rumour fail to come to fruition. Argyle have been linked with Coburn all window, and it appeared last week that a deal was imminent following reports in Football Insider that terms had been agreed. However, despite reports in Teeside Live today that a deal with Argyle had been agreed in principle, it now seems that parent club Middlesbrough have reneged on the deal.

In a press conference today, Boro manager Michael Carrick was quoted as saying “Josh is staying with us. It’s important for us as a club to look after our younger players, especially the ones coming through and develop and put them in the right place at the right time. Sometimes the right pathway changes.

“Coming back in pre-season, it was a case of getting to know Josh a bit more and deciding whether he went on loan or not, it was about what’s best for Josh and what’s best for us as a group and a squad. Over time it’s been pretty clear what Josh can bring. He’s back fit, looking really strong, we’re delighted to have him and all round it’s the best decision to have him with us.”

These quotes are confusing, given that a deal in principle was clearly agreed with Argyle less than a week ago. It is perhaps the case that Middlesbrough’s poor start to the season has led to a swift reappraisal of their targets for the campaign. They may now view Argyle as a genuine divisional rival, and have opted therefore to prevent Coburn from moving to Home Park.

In any case, Argyle will have to revert to a new plan for their final signing of the summer. Bringing in another striker will surely be a priority heading into deadline day tomorrow.

Source: Teeside Live

25/08/23

Rumour: Josh Coburn is set to join Plymouth Argyle on loan from Middlesbrough

Age: 20

Position: Striker

Last season: 10 goals and 3 assists in 41 appearances

Source: Football Insider

Verdict: It’s been a little quiet on the transfer front ever since Luke Cundle joined Argyle on loan at the start of August. In that time it’s hardly been a secret that Steven Schumacher has been pursuing a striker, and one of the names thrown into the mix was Josh Coburn. Today, it’s been all but confirmed that Coburn will be making the move to Home Park.

The same source that broke the Cundle story is on show again here – Pete O’Rourke in Football Insider generally has a good track record, particularly when he links a single player to a single club. That’s what he’s done here and, given the links between Coburn and Argyle for much of the window, we can safely assume that a deal is imminent.

Coburn enjoyed a good spell on loan at Bristol Rovers last season, scoring ten league goals and providing three assists in all competitions. That led to him being named the club’s young player of the season. He’ll become the second Argyle player this season who spent last year with the Gas, following in the footsteps of Lewis Gibson.

It remains to be seen whether this will be Argyle’s last signing of the window. A striker has long been mooted as the final piece of the jigsaw, but who knows how much remains in the transfer kitty?

Rumour rating (/5): ★★★★★

07/08/23

Plymouth Argyle have confirmed the signing of Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder Luke Cundle. The 21-year-old, who spent last season at Swansea City, joins the Pilgrims on a season-long loan.

Cundle has played for the Wolves first team in the Premier League on four occasions, and scored three times in 32 appearances for Swansea last year. He can play in a variety of midfield positions, adding depth and versatility to Steven Schumacher’s ranks in the middle of the park.

Cundle will wear the number 28 shirt during his stay at Home Park.

Source: pafc.co.uk

06/08/23

Rumour: Plymouth Argyle are closing in on the loan signing of Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Luke Cundle

Age: 21

Position: Midfielder

Last season: 3 goals and 3 assists in 32 appearances

Source: Football Insider

Verdict: Yeah, I’m pretty convinced by this one. We’ve had a few rumours stemming from Pete O’Rourke in Football Insider this year, and this is the most convincing of the lot.

Admittedly, a few of the previous rumours haven’t come to fruition. But when they’ve been published, Argyle have been linked to players alongside a host of other clubs. It’s straight out of the O’Rourke playbook to drive engagement from as many fan bases as possible. But when he links a player to just one club specifically, we listen, because that suggests a much deeper level of knowledge that we know he possesses.

Cundle would feel like a classic Steven Schumacher signing. He’s already had a relatively successful loan spell last season with Swansea City, and Argyle have dealt with his parent club Wolves before through the signing of Nigel Lonwijk. Cundle can play across the midfield in a deeper or more advanced role, and would seem to be the perfect signing for the versatility Schumacher is looking to develop.

We’ve seen a couple of other signs too that a deal is imminent, such as Cundle interacting with Morgan Whittaker on social media. And with that, along with O’Rourke’s pretty solid report, I’d expect this one to be announced sooner rather than later.

Rumour rating (/5): ★★★★★

02/08/23

Jack Endacott has become the latest youth player to leave Plymouth Argyle. The 18-year-old left-sided defender has joined Tiverton Town on a three-month deal.

Endacott, who made his Argyle debut in the EFL Cup against Peterborough United, recently signed his first professional contract at Home Park. As well as appearing against Posh, Endacott appeared regularly in the EFL Trophy, notching an assist in a 3-1 win at Swindon Town.

Source: pafc.co.uk

26/07/23

Rumour: Plymouth Argyle are looking at bringing in former Bordeaux striker Josh Maja

Age: 24

Position: Striker

Last season: 17 goals and 6 assists in 41 appearances

Source: Twitter

Verdict: Ah, the latest opportunity to review a Twitter account I haven’t come across before. Another Argyle rumour has surfaced, and this one comes from account with the handle “Argyle Antifa” – that’s a combination I didn’t expect to come across this summer, but sure.

They’ve linked Argyle with a move for striker Josh Maja. He’s just departed Bordeaux following the expiry of his deal, but not before a prolific season in France’s Ligue 2. Prior to that, most people became aware of him after practically having an episode dedicated to him on Netflix’s Sunderland ‘Til I Die. He’s also had loan spells at Fulham and Stoke City, and is by all accounts a talented second tier striker.

I do not know the person/people behind Argyle Antifa, but my instinct is they may just be jumping on a bandwagon. We can see it from their previous tweets; they do tend to report on deals Argyle are close to completing, but not before others have released the information already. These links to Maja come just a day after his availability following his Bordeaux spell was widely shared on social media. Coincidence?

As it’s an account I was previously unaware of, I won’t rule this out completely. But for now, I’d err on waiting for something more official.

Rumour rating (/5): ★★

26/07/23

Following the recent speculation, Plymouth Argyle have completed the signing of Lewis Warrington. The 20-year-old midfielder joins on a season-long loan from Everton.

Warrington spent last season on loan at Fleetwood Town. He made 44 appearances in all competitions, scoring once. He appeared for Fleetwood in the 0-0 draw with Argyle at Home Park back in February, playing the full 90 minutes. He’s also made an appearance for the Everton senior side, coincidentally coming against Fleetwood in the EFL Cup. There’s every chance that his performance there inspired his move to Fleetwood a fortnight later.

Argyle will be the third loan spell of Warrington’s career, having also lined up for Tranmere Rovers before Fleetwood. His contract at Everton expires at the end of the 2023/24 season, so expect more movement on his long-term future sooner rather than later.

Source: pafc.co.uk

26/07/23

Plymouth Argyle have announced that defender Oscar Halls has joined Plymouth Parkway on loan. As with the recent announcement on Will Jenkins-Davies, the duration of the 18-year-old’s loan wasn’t initially disclosed. It is, however, believed to be a three-month deal.

Halls has yet to make a league appearance for Argyle. However, he has played regularly in the EFL Trophy, scoring his first goal in a group stage encounter with Swindon Town.

Source: pafc.co.uk

26/07/23

Rumour: Plymouth Argyle have stepped up their interest Everton midfielder Lewis Warrington

Age: 20

Position: Central Midfield

Last season: 1 goal and 2 assists in 46 appearances

Source: Twitter

Verdict: Following our reports of Argyle’s interest in Warrington back on 4th July, it appears a move for the midfielder has taken a step forward.

Think back to when Argyle confirmed the signing of Lewis Gibson. Just before the news was announced, we saw a tweet alluding to the fact from an account known as ‘The Bobble’. It’s an Everton-centred account which is followed by numerous reputable journalists from across the football world. When they tweet news relating to Everton players, it’s not without merit, and they’ve recently confirmed the link between Argyle and Warrington.

We’re not given any information on whether Argyle are in talks for a permanent deal or a loan. And this deal will be harder one to complete than Gibson’s, with Warrington still under contract at Goodison Park for another year. But this one seems close and, whilst it’s always good to wait for official confirmation, I’d expect to see some movement here in the coming days.

Rumour rating (/5): ★★★★★

21/07/23

On a busy day for Plymouth Argyle transfers, Will Jenkins-Davies has joined Torquay United on loan. The 18-year-old, who appeared for the Argyle first team in the home victory against Ipswich Town last season, is entering his first season as a professional.

The length of the loan has not been made clear, but Jenkins-Davies will join the squad at Plainmoor ahead of a weekend friendly with Exeter City.

Source: pafc.co.uk

21/07/23

Plymouth Argyle have made another transfer market swoop, confirming that Bali Mumba has returned to the club on a permanent deal. Much like Morgan Whittaker on Monday, last season’s loanee Mumba has signed a four-year deal.

The deal equals the club-record fee Argyle spent on Whittaker, meaning Mumba rejoins the club for £1 million. He’ll wear the number 2 shirt during his latest stay at Home Park.

Source: pafc.co.uk

21/07/23

Rumour: Plymouth Argyle are in advanced talks with Bali Mumba ahead of a potential return

Age: 21

Position: Wing back

Last season: 6 goals and 10 assists in 47 appearances

Source: Pink Un

Verdict: Well hasn’t this one moved quickly? It feels but an hour ago I was writing on here assessing the validity of one of Bali Mumba’s best mates. Suddenly, it’s being reported through various other channels, and it looks as though this deal may actually be imminent.

The news has now been reported in an article by Pink Un. It’s a Norwich City site with a handsome following, and the article itself has been written by their ‘chief Norwich City reporter’ Connor Southwell, who also writes for the Eastern Daily Press and the Norwich Evening News. As much as those publications all do feel like inventions from Steve Coogan and Armando Iannucci, they are genuine, reputable organisations.

It’d appear that some good work across pre-season from Norwich full back Kellen Fisher has opened the door for Mumba to depart. And it goes without saying that Plymouth Argyle would be an ideal destination given his exploits last season. Earlier today I encouraged us to hold the cups and glasses and await more news. You can smash them now.

Rumour rating (/5): ★★★★★

21/07/23

Rumour: Bali Mumba is set to return to Plymouth Argyle

Age: 21

Position: Wing back

Last season: 6 goals and 10 assists in 47 appearances

Source: Twitter

Verdict: This is a pretty tenuous one, but it’s been doing the rounds on social media across the last 24 hours. And I’m not going to rule it out entirely, but I’m going to need to hear a little more before I get truly excited about the prospect of Mumba returning.

There hasn’t actually been a tweet directly saying Mumba is on his way back to Argyle. Or at least, there hasn’t been from a source of any particular repute. Instead, Mumba’s impending arrival has been interpreted from a tweet by Mickey Hassan, which seemed to suggest that movement on this one was imminent. Hassan knows Mumba well, and was on the pitch with him as Argyle won promotion at the end of last season.

It won’t surprise you to know that I don’t have any friends who are famous footballers. I’ve spent my summer rating Plymouth Argyle transfer rumours; which part of that suggests I have friends? But if I knew I could make a single tweet about my footballer friend could have a fanbase on strings, would I have fun with that? I think I probably would, but maybe that’s just me being cynical.

Maybe Mickey is a wind-up merchant, or maybe he isn’t. But let’s wait to hear from a more official channel before we get too engrossed.

Rumour rating (/5): ★★★

19/07/23

Rumour: Plymouth Argyle have joined the race to sign Stoke City defender Connor Taylor

Age: 21

Position: Centre Back

Last season: 18 appearances

Source: Bristol Post

Verdict: Plymouth Argyle have been strongly linked to Terry Taylor for much of the summer. And now it appears that his namesake Connor is the next to appear on Steven Schumacher’s radar.

This rumour wasn’t actually sourced from an Argyle-related publication. In fact, it surfaced in the Bristol Post, and centred around Bristol Rovers’ pursuit of the centre back. Taylor had a loan spell with the Gas two years ago, and scored the second goal in their bonkers 7-0 win over Scunthorpe United that secured promotion on the final day. They’ve been interested in bringing him back ever since, and that interest extends to this summer. But Rovers face stiff competition, with Argyle one of the clubs mentioned.

The content of the article suggests that Taylor may be available for transfer this summer, but a few things will have to fall into place. It sounds like he wants to leave, with all indications suggesting he’s become frustrated with the lack of first-team opportunities at Stoke. Whether he’s allowed to, however, will depend on which centre backs (and how many) the Potters are able to bring through the door – Alex Neil has lost plenty from his side during pre-season.

I’m interested in seeing how this develops. Are Argyle a better draw than Bristol Rovers right now? Without question. But there are rumoured to be a few more Championship clubs sniffing around. And with Stoke still needing to complete more business before the new season, this one could run for a few weeks yet. It wouldn’t surprise me to see Taylor’s future decided in the dying embers of the transfer window.

Rumour rating (/5): ★★★

17/07/23

As reported earlier today, Plymouth Argyle have completed the signing of Morgan Whittaker. The 22-year-old, who spent the first half of last season on loan at Home Park, joins on a four-year deal.

Argyle have confirmed that Whittaker joins for a club-record transfer fee. This is believed to be in the region of £1 million with the potential for add-ons further down the line. It breaks the transfer record that has been held by Steven MacLean since 2008.

Whittaker will take the number 10 shirt, worn by Danny Mayor last season, for his second spell at the club.

Source: pafc.co.uk

17/07/23

Following reports that Plymouth Argyle and Reading were chasing the signing of Sam Smith, it’s been confirmed that the Royals have won the race. Smith has signed a three-year deal at Reading, which sees him rejoin a club he represented at youth level.

Following today’s news on Morgan Whittaker, I’m sure this will be the last thing on Argyle fans’ minds.

Source: readingfc.co.uk

17/07/23

Rumour: Plymouth Argyle are set to announce the return of Morgan Whittaker on a permanent deal for a club-record fee

Age: 22

Position: Attacking Midfielder/Winger

Last season: 10 goals and 7 assists in 46 appearances

Source: Various

Verdict: First of all, please allow me to extend my apologies to Twitter account Only Swans. They were the first to report on Whittaker’s imminent arrival at Home Park over the weekend, and I wasn’t wholly sure whether to believe them. It appears they were right all along.

Yes, Argyle are set to announce the return of Morgan Whittaker. Various sources, official and otherwise, have reported on the impending news today, with the player himself being pictured at the ground holding his new number 10 shirt. The fee is believed to be £1 million plus a series of add-ons, which will break a long-standing club-record transfer fee.

Put the bunting out or pop open a cider or two (responsibly, of course) because this one is done. And what a timely boost it is for Plymouth Argyle’s summer.

Rumour rating (/5): ★★★★★

15/07/23

Rumour: Morgan Whittaker is set to move away from Swansea City, with a return to Plymouth Argyle most likely

Age: 22

Position: Attacking Midfielder/Winger

Last season: 10 goals and 7 assists in 46 appearances

Source: Twitter

Verdict: Right, this one is tough to dig into. A tweet from “Only Swans” appearing to announce Whittaker’s imminent departure has sent many Argyle fans into a frenzy. But I’d urge some restraint for now, at least until we hear a little more on how this one progresses.

Let’s look at the content of the tweet. They say that Whittaker wasn’t included in Swansea’s behind closed doors friendly with Swindon Town today. And that’s true – Whittaker didn’t feature at all despite the Swans using a significant number of players across the 90 minutes. The rest we can only guess. We can deduce that Whittaker may be in talks elsewhere, but that could be a case of putting two and two together and coming up with five.

The rumour is also a little weird for the account itself. From a quick scroll through, it appears they regularly tweet Swansea-related rumours, but only when there is another source quoted. There isn’t here, and indeed the account says that’s because they’re “the first ones to report this”. So whether we believe this rumour depends entirely on how much we trust this Twitter account.

Regretfully, verification on Twitter means nothing ever since the world’s oldest infant took ownership of the company. And as I’ve never come across the account before, I just can’t vouch for its reliability before I hear any more. I’d be delighted for them to prove me wrong, but at the moment I wouldn’t expect to see any movement on Whittaker for a while.

Rumour rating (/5): ★★

15/07/23

Rumour: Plymouth Argyle are battling Reading to sign ex-Cambridge striker Sam Smith

Age: 25

Position: Striker

Last season: 14 goals and 4 assists in 52 appearances

Source: Football League World

Verdict: Argyle were linked to Cambridge United’s Harvey Knibbs for much of the window before he eventually joined Reading. But for many, including myself, Sam Smith has seemed the ideal pickup from Cambridge all along.

He had a more than solid season at the Abbey Stadium last season. His 14 goals included a hat trick against Burton Albion in a frankly bonkers 4-3 win, and he scored in six consecutive League One games at the end of the season to help his side beat the drop. He should be easy to obtain too – he’s been released by Cambridge following the expiry of his contract, but not because of his ability. Rather, manager Mark Bonner has accepted he “want to seek other opportunities”.

All that being said, I’m not wholly confident on the deal just yet. The report appears to have come directly from Football League World who, to give them credit, haven’t seemed the type to make up baseless claims in recent weeks. But usually, their reports tend to be sourced from elsewhere. This time, I can’t find another source in the article, suggesting they’ve brought the rumour up themselves. And because that’s rare for them, I have no real way of verifying how reliable they are.

I don’t know – maybe Argyle have been linked to so many players now that I become more sceptical with every rumour. But I’ll wait to see how this is reported elsewhere before I start to get excited. Besides, we’ve got to beat Reading to him yet, which won’t be easy. After all, it was the Royals who got a deal for Knibbs over the line.

Rumour rating (/5): ★★★

13/07/23

Rumour: Plymouth Argyle retain an interest in bringing Finn Azaz back to the club

Age: 22

Position: Attacking Midfield

Last season: 8 goals and 10 assists in 39 appearances

Source: Plymouth Live

Verdict: I don’t think it comes as much of a surprise that Argyle remain very keen on Finn Azaz. The 22-year-old midfielder impressed for the Greens last season on loan from Aston Villa, and as long as his future remains unclear links between the player and club are always likely to surface. They’ve been cropping up all summer.

But today we saw the first concrete evidence that the interest exists. Chris Errington reported in Plymouth Live that Argyle are open to the possibility of bringing back Azaz, and it was hardly without merit. In fact, the news was backed up directly by a quote from Steven Schumacher, who said “if we could bring him back I would like to bring him back because he is a good player, if he wants to come back. We will have to see.” The word ‘if’ does a lot of heavy lifting there, but sources hardly get more reliable than the manager himself.

It’s important to note that this is just interest at this stage. There is no suggestion that a deal is imminent, or even necessarily likely. If I were a betting man, I’d put money on Azaz having his future decided fairly late in the window, so don’t expect too much movement on this one for a little while. But are Argyle in the race? Without question.

Rumour rating (/5): ★★★★

11/07/23

Following strong rumours last week, Plymouth Argyle have today confirmed the signing of goalkeeper Conor Hazard. The Northern Irish international joins on a three-year deal from Celtic, for a fee believed to be £150,000.

Hazard made just seven appearances in his time at Celtic, but had numerous loan spells away from Glasgow. That includes last season, when he won the league title in Finland with HJK Helsinki.

It remains to be seen what the signing of Hazard will mean for both Callum Burton and Michael Cooper, whose futures at Home Park now come with a few question marks.

Source: pafc.co.uk

07/07/23

Middlesbrough have won the race to sign Plymouth Argyle target Sammy Silvera. The 22-year-old Australian was announced at the Riverside this morning, alongside another Aussie in goalkeeper Tom Glover.

Whilst Argyle haven’t signed Silvera, there is plenty we can learn from the pursuit of the player. The fee Boro paid is officially undisclosed, but is strongly rumoured to have been £500,000. We know Argyle (amongst others) matched that bid, and it was the player’s choice to move to Teeside.

With Argyle willing to bid half a million pounds on one player, could that be a sign of further spending to come in the window?

Source: mfc.co.uk

04/07/23

Rumour: Plymouth Argyle have agreed a fee with Celtic for goalkeeper Conor Hazard

Age: 25

Position: Goalkeeper

Last season: 4 clean sheets in 14 appearances (Europe only)

Source: Daily Record

Verdict: Wait, what? If there was one position I wouldn’t expect Argyle to spend a fee on this summer, it’d be in goal. But here we are, with a report in the Daily Record suggesting the Greens have agreed a fee with Celtic for 25-year-old shot stopper Conor Hazard.

Hazard (no relation to Eden or Thorgen) spent last season on loan in Finland at HJK Helsinki. Right now I’ve only been able to find stats for the appearances he made in European competitions, though I’m sure if pushed I could track down a few more. But the signs are good; HJK Helsinki won the league title last season, with Hazard named the league’s best goalkeeper.

There are plenty of interesting points to the report. It’s suggested that Argyle have agreed a “six-figure fee” for Hazard, with the potential for some add-ons further down the line. He’s described as a player “keen to kick on with his career and to get regular first-team football”, which implies there will soon be an opening at Argyle to help with this. The Daily Record is, in this area at least, a fairly reputable publication. There’s no reason to doubt the main headline of the story.

But what does it mean? Argyle already have two goalkeepers on the books in Michael Cooper and Callum Burton, and the former was comfortably the best ‘keeper in League One last season. You’d imagine this won’t be a signal on Burton’s future; if he was off, why would Argyle spend six figures on a backup when many free options are available? Hazard would surely have to dislodge Cooper. Is he set to be sold this summer? Will his injury keep him out for even longer than initially believed? Is Hazard happy to sign on the basis he’ll start when Cooper eventually leaves? It’s impossible to say.

This has come completely out of the blue. Based on the report, I’d say the deal is as good as done. But I’m most interested in what it means for the rest of Argyle’s window.

Rumour rating (/5): ★★★★★

04/07/23

Plymouth Argyle have missed out on the signing of Josh Key. The former Exeter defender, rumoured to be a target for the Greens this summer, has signed for Swansea City on a three-year deal.

Argyle recently announced the signing of Kaine Kesler-Hayden on loan from Aston Villa. Kesler-Hayden plays a similar role to Key, whilst admittedly not being quite as versatile. That could be a sign that Argyle’s pursuit of Key was never likely to succeed, and they turned their attentions elsewhere a while ago. If Kesler-Hayden hits the ground running, Key would be no great loss.

Source: swanseacity.com

04/07/23

Rumour: Plymouth Argyle are interested in signing Everton midfielder Lewis Warrington

Age: 20

Position: Central Midfield

Last season: 1 goal and 2 assists in 46 appearances

Source: Football Transfers

Verdict: After finally announcing the signing of Lewis Gibson yesterday, could Argyle be looking to bring another youngster in from Goodison Park? Don’t be surprised. The latest rumour to surface links Argyle with a move for midfielder Lewis Warrington, a player currently at Everton who spent last season on loan at Fleetwood Town.

I’ve been trying to work out what to think of the source. It’s from a website called “Football Transfers”. Nice, straight to the point. I like that. But I’ve never heard of the website before. Is that a hole in my knowledge? Should I have picked up on these guys before? I’m disappointed that somebody has managed to buy a domain name like that and they’ve completely flown under my radar. If they’re genuine, of course.

The article in question isn’t actually about Warrington. Rather, it appears to be a roundup of the latest Everton transfer rumours, with the final sentence just touching on Argyle’s interest. So I’ve dug a bit further into the website and the journalist, Jacque Talbot. Both have a Twitter following in the 30,000 range, so you’d imagine they’re not completely bogus. It’d certainly be strange for them to throw a line in about Argyle and Warrington for no reason.

On the face of it, he’s exactly the sort of player you’d expect Argyle to pursue. Steven Schumacher’s links to Everton play a role; they’ve already been useful in signing Gibson. And Warrington is a young player with EFL experience and resale value, both of which we know hold great weight with the Argyle hierarchy.

But there’s one key difference between Warrington and Gibson: Warrington is still under contract with Everton. Argyle could perhaps pursue a loan move, or be prepared to fork out a fee to get their man. In any case, it’ll be a much more difficult deal to complete.

Rumour rating (/5): ★★★

03/07/23

It’s not exactly been a closely guarded secret, but Plymouth Argyle have finally announced the signing of Lewis Gibson. The 22-year-old defender becomes the Greens’ third signing of the summer.

Argyle have been strongly linked to the player for a while, and he even appeared to be spotted at Home Park last week. The only doubt was whether he’d sign on permanent terms or join on loan from Everton. We’ve learnt today that his deal will indeed be permanent.

He spent last season on loan at Bristol Rovers, but does have Championship experience having played for Reading in the 2020-21 campaign. He’s also worked with Neil Dewsnip at England youth level. Putting the pieces together, it wouldn’t be a surprise if Argyle have been after Gibson for some time. In any case, they finally have their man.

Source: pafc.co.uk

03/07/23

Rumour: Plymouth Argyle are one of four clubs to have had a bid accepted for Sammy Silvera

Age: 22

Position: Winger

Last season: 8 goals and 6 assists in 29 appearances

Source: Daily Record

Verdict: Cast your mind back to around a week or so ago. You may recall that Argyle were rumoured to have had a bid rejected for Central Coast Mariners winger Sammy Silvera. Well, it appears their interest has only intensified, with reports now that another bid has now been accepted for the Australian.

The latest update comes from the Daily Record, a Scottish tabloid which has been pursuing the story from the angle of Hearts’ pursuit of the player. They report that his move to Hearts is on the rocks, with “six-figure” bids accepted from four clubs in the Championship. The article doesn’t explicitly state who those bids are from, but it does touch on interest from Argyle alongside Middlesbrough and Stoke City.

It’s said that Silvera will make a decision on his future “over the next 24 to 48 hours”. And at time of writing that statement is now five hours old, so the clock really is ticking. It’s fairly certain at this point that Argyle are in for the player, so will they conclude the deal? We’ll find out pretty soon whether they’ve beaten some stiff competition.

Rumour rating (/5): ★★★★

03/07/23

Rumour: Plymouth Argyle are one of a number of clubs chasing Swedish striker Isac Lidberg

Age: 24

Position: Striker

Last season: 8 goals and 5 assists in 36 appearances

Source: Voetbal International

Verdict: You know silly season is beginning to peak when you’re putting Google Translate to work to make sense of an article in Dutch. But here we are and, after completing the signing of Julio Pleguezuelo, Argyle look to be keen to raid the Eredivisie once more.

According to Voetbal International (I know), Argyle are now looking to sign striker Isac Lidberg from the superbly named Go Ahead Eagles. The translated article sees him described as “a chunky striker who stands out for his work ethic”, which feels slightly harsh. Still, does that description perhaps suggest Argyle are eyeing him up as a potential replacement for Sam Cosgrove? It’ll shock you to know I’ve never watched Lidberg play, but that’d be my natural deduction from the pursuit of a target man.

I’ve got no particular reason to doubt the source. Again, shock horror, I’m not familiar with the work of Voetbal International. But they’ve built up a Twitter following of over 500,000. As Utrecht-based experts on Dutch football, it’d be surprising to say the least if they were making up rumours about Plymouth Argyle without at least some basis.

But I’m not wholly convinced a deal is imminent, or even likely. Lidberg is still in contract at Go Ahead Eagles, so Argyle wouldn’t be able to swoop in and sign him for free as they did with Pleguezuelo. And they’re far from the only club keen on Lidberg. The article links him with Blackburn Rovers, Birmingham City, AJ Auxerre, Leuven and St Pauli “among others”. An eclectic mix indeed.

Argyle face plenty of competition here, and would possibly need to clear one hurdle too many to secure their man. But let’s watch this one closely.

Rumour rating (/5): ★★★

30/06/23

Rumour: Plymouth Argyle are in talks with Everton defender Lewis Gibson

Age: 22

Position: Centre Back

Last season: 1 goal in 33 appearances

Source: Twitter

Verdict: I never expected a rumour coming from an account I’d never previously heard of on Twitter to seem completely reliable. But this one does. Stick with me.

Everton’s Lewis Gibson is the latest player to be linked with Argyle. The rumour has stemmed from an account known as “The Bobble”. It doesn’t come with a bio, but a quick scroll of the Tweets shows it’s solely centred on Everton. And they’ve built up quite a following too – their follower count currently stands at just under 55,000. That includes some big names; Jamie Carragher, David Ornstein and Fabrizio Romano are all part of that following. A couple of names who make waves throughout football every transfer window. And Jamie Carragher.

Clearly, the account has built up a reputation of reliability. There’s surely no reason they’d tweet directly about Plymouth Argyle being in talks with an Everton player without there being some truth behind the words.

Even without a reliable source behind it, there are a lot of reasons why Argyle may be interested in the player. Steven Schumacher’s links to Everton is obvious, but Gibson has the experience to back up any interest. He’s had numerous loan spells in the EFL, and his last stint was a very successful one at Bristol Rovers.

So, we have a player who already has a link to the Westcountry, and looks ready to take a step up. What we can’t say for sure is whether Argyle are in for a permanent or loan deal. Gibson is out of contract at Everton this summer, but has been offered new terms. That can mean two things. Everton may genuinely see a future for him at the club, and they’d like to tie him down to a new deal before considering the next phase in his development. Or, they’re offering him a new deal to ensure they get compensation for a player under the age of 24 leaving the club.

Either way, and I know I may be about to make myself look stupid in the coming days, I’d say a deal here looks pretty imminent.

Rumour rating (/5): ★★★★★

29/06/23

Plymouth Argyle have completed their second signing of the summer transfer window. Kaine Kesler-Hayden has joined on a season-long loan from Aston Villa. He’s described as a wing back, primarily on the right side.

Kesler-Hayden made his senior debut in 2021. That was for Villa against Liverpool in the FA Cup, forced into the side after the first team were required to isolate due to COVID protocols at the time. At youth level, he captained the side who won the FA Youth Cup in the same year.

More recently, Kesler-Hayden has had loan spells at Milton Keynes in League One and, last season, Huddersfield Town in the Championship. He made 15 appearances for the Terriers, scoring once, but his spell was terminated in January to free up a loan slot for another position in the side. He has also made five appearances for England at under 20 level.

Steven Schumacher was quoted as saying “I’m very pleased that Kaine has agreed to join us for the season. He has excellent pedigree, and great experience for his young age, including in the Championship. He will give us energy and versatility – I am really looking forward to working with him.”

Source: pafc.co.uk

29/06/23

Rumour: Plymouth Argyle have had a bid rejected for Terry Taylor

Age: 22

Position: Central Midfielder

Last season: 5 assists in 33 appearances

Source: Football Insider

Verdict: This one now appears to be moving at pace. Argyle have been linked with Taylor for much of the summer window, and it was recently rumoured that Hibernian have entered the race for the player. Now we have this latest report from Pete O’Rourke, always fairly reliable, that Argyle have had a bid rejected by Burton Albion.

The player is out of contract at Burton this summer, so an agreement with the club doesn’t necessarily need to be reached. However, with the player currently under 23 (it is in fact his 22nd birthday today – happy birthday Terry if you’re reading, which you’re probably not), Burton would be due compensation for any transfer. Clearly, Argyle’s preference would be to agree a deal now and avoid any potential tribunal to decide upon a fee.

So, can we expect this to go any further? Ultimately, Burton won’t be able to reject a move this summer, so you’d expect Taylor to leave one way or another. But one wonders whether Argyle’s desire to seal a deal via this method means that a fee agreed at tribunal could be out of their price range. And there’s still interest from elsewhere; alongside Hibs, Cardiff City are now said to be keen on bringing Taylor to Wales. So whilst things are beginning to move quickly, his destination remains unclear.

Nonetheless, Argyle’s interest in the player seems more certain by the day.

Rumour rating (/5): ★★★★

27/06/23

Jack Endacott and Zak Baker have signed their first professional contracts at Plymouth Argyle.

Endacott played eight times for Argyle last season, including his first league appearance, and recorded an assist against Swindon Town in the EFL Trophy. Goalkeeper Baker, meanwhile, has yet to make an appearance. However, he did make the bench for Argyle as Callum Burton’s EFL Trophy backup before the signing of Adam Parkes.

Source: pafc.co.uk

27/06/23

Rumour: Plymouth Argyle have had two bids rejected for Australian winger Sammy Silvera

Age: 22

Position: Winger

Last season: 8 goals and 6 assists in 29 appearances

Source: Edinburgh Evening News

Verdict: If you mentioned this rumour a year ago, I’d say it was far too left-field to be genuine. But with the way Argyle have been conducting their business recently, it’s just possible that this deal has a chance.

Sammy Silvera is the latest player linked to Argyle from Australia. He’s another player linked this summer who is probably a winger primarily, but his competence on both sides would probably allow him to fit in nicely behind the striker in a 3-4-2-1. He’s coming off the back of a highly productive season in the A League, where his Central Coast Mariners side were crowned champions.

Silvera had a big part to play. He scored twice in the end of season play-offs which saw Mariners crowned champions, including one in the 6-1 Grand Final drubbing of Melbourne City. He actually bookended his campaign with goals, also scoring in the season opener against Wellington Phoenix back in October. Opening the scoring for the opposition that day? Ben Waine.

Unless we’ve got some fun and games from the player’s agent here, Argyle’s interest in Silvera is a near certainty. We know the club keep a close eye on the A League, having brought in Waine and Macauley Gillesphey in recent years. And there’s really no reason for the source to be lying about Argyle’s bids. The rumour has come from the Edinburgh Evening News, and is actually framed around Hearts’ interest in the player. Argyle actually play Hearts in pre-season. Who knows whether Silvera will be present? And on which side?

Whether a deal is actually imminent is another matter entirely. Argyle will probably make another bid, but remember that the Greens had a bid rejected for Waine last summer before he eventually joined in January. And along with Hearts’ interest, an article in the Daily Record suggests that Middlesbrough are also keen.

Alas, there are plenty of legs in this rumour yet. But I’d be very surprised if Argyle weren’t involved in some capacity.

Rumour rating (/5): ★★★★

25/06/23

Rumour: Plymouth Argyle are challenging Millwall for Huddersfield Town’s Josh Koroma

Age: 24

Position: Striker/Winger

Last season: 9 goals and 4 assists in 44 appearances

Source: Alan Nixon

Verdict: I really don’t know what to make of this one, both in terms of the player and the rumour itself.

Let’s start by looking at Koroma, who has just come off the back of a rollercoaster season. Seemingly unwanted by Huddersfield at the start of 2022/23, he was loaned to Portsmouth on deadline day. He started like a house on fire at Fratton Park, scoring a beauty against Argyle in September’s 2-2 draw. But, much like Pompey as a whole after that game, his form fell off a cliff. He scored just once more in the league before Portsmouth opted to terminate his loan at the start of January.

He was met with a great stroke of luck. In February, Huddersfield hired Neil Warnock, who reintegrated Koroma into the side. He’s started the majority of the Terriers’ games under the 74-year-old, and has posted better numbers in the Championship than he did in the first half of the season in League One. He’s out of contract this summer, and that form has put plenty of clubs on high alert.

Huddersfield would ideally like to keep Koroma, and their retained list confirms that they have offered him a new deal. But if you believe Alan Nixon, Argyle and Millwall are both interested in taking Koroma off their hands. And do you believe Alan Nixon? Well, that’s a tougher question to answer than it may have been a few years ago.

I’m not able to judge Nixon as easily as before. In the interests of full disclosure, he’s actually blocked me on Twitter after I was one of many to spot his use of a racial slur against a Celtic player in 2021. But I don’t think that has made much of a difference in the grand scheme of things. Nixon’s Twitter account is now on private, and he posts the details of most of his rumours on Patreon. For paid subscribers.

Between you and me, if I were paid for every rumour, I would be making any old story up by the minute. Alas, I do this stuff for free, so this remains a safe space for transparency. Still, Nixon has been right on some things in the past, so let’s assume that Argyle hold some form of interest.

Rumour rating (/5): ★★★

25/06/23

Rumour: Plymouth Argyle are one of three clubs chasing the signing of Exeter City’s Josh Key

Age: 23

Position: Right Back/Centre Back

Last season: 4 goals and 2 assists in 48 appearances

Source: Football Insider

Verdict: Ooh this one would be fun. Remember the furore from up the road when Joel Grant signed for Argyle back in 2017? Now imagine that, but it’s an Exeter academy graduate making the jump across the Devon divide.

Key to me sounds like a defensive version of Byron Moore, in that he is outstandingly versatile. I’ve listed him as a right back or a centre back because that’s where he was most regularly found last season. But he seems perfectly suited to any team playing a back three. He’s comfortable as a right wing back, as well as on the right side of a back three. Put him anywhere else, though, and you can still expect him to deliver. Against Sheffield Wednesday in April he started the game up front. And scored.

There’s an obvious geographical link here, and the source is pretty sound; it’s another to come from Pete O’Rourke in Football Insider. Thus, there is a lot of evidence that a deal is possible at the very least.

Nonetheless, there are a few stumbling blocks still in play. The first is Key’s contract situation. Yes, he’s out of contract this month, and manager Gary Caldwell confirmed as recently as this morning that the player will leave this summer. But as a 23-year-old he’d come with a cost. Exeter would be entitled to compensation for any transfer that takes place, and for someone who’s been at the club for the last eight years that figure wouldn’t be cheap. If no agreement with Exeter can be made, a fee would be decided by an independent tribunal.

We must also consider the calibre of the other interested clubs. Yes, the article links Argyle with a move, but Swansea City appear to be considered to be the frontrunners. The Swans have “made an undisclosed bid” whilst Argyle, along with West Bromwich Albion, are simply said to be “trying to find an agreement with Exeter.”

I’d love for this deal to go through, and I’m certainly convinced that Argyle are in the race. But this one has a way to run yet.

Rumour rating (/5): ★★★

24/06/23

Rumour: Hibernian have joined Plymouth Argyle in the race to sign Terry Taylor

Age: 21

Position: Central Midfielder

Last season: 5 assists in 33 appearances

Source: Twitter

Verdict: There’s a fair bit to take in here, some of which is a little odd. So let’s start right at the beginning.

Argyle have been linked with Taylor since the end of last season, before I even bothered to set this page up again. He’s a talented young midfielder at Burton Albion, who was flourishing last season before injury cut his season short in early February. Only 21, he’s widely regarded as having a bright future in the game. And with his contract at Burton expiring this summer, news of Argyle’s interest made a lot of sense.

Since he was linked the rumour has evolved. Argyle are still interested in the player, but a couple of weeks ago Cardiff City were reported to have entered the race. Today we’ve had a further development in the saga, with Scottish side Hibernian becoming the latest contenders for Taylor’s signature. It was reported on Twitter by Football Insider, alongside an article from Pete O’Rourke. He tends to have at least some knowledge, even if he never seems absolutely sure where a player will end up.

The confusing part though? The article linked in the tweet doesn’t seem to exist. Rather, it just takes the reader to the Football Insider homepage. Just a misplaced link, I initially thought. But I’m now struggling to find any evidence that the article exists at all. Honestly, Google anything relating to Terry Taylor and Football Insider. Can you find anything from the last day linking him to Hibs? I know I can’t.

I imagine this is just a case of gremlins in the system. But feel free to get your tinfoil hats on and make up any theory you like. Maybe the article was taken down because they’ve learnt something new and it’s no longer relevant. Or maybe there was never an article in the first place and the tweet was just put out to generate a conversation. Let your imagination run wild.

In all seriousness, Taylor’s future is still up in the air. Argyle are surely interested, but so are plenty of others. Let’s see what happens.

Rumour rating (/5): ★★★

22/06/23

Rumour: Plymouth Argyle have a “contract on the table” for Joel Latibeaudiere

Age: 23

Position: Right Back/Centre Back

Last season: 2 goals and 3 assists in 37 appearances

Source: Internal

Verdict: Having announced the arrival of Julio Pleguezuelo yesterday, Argyle appear to be after another tongue-twister of a signing in Joel Latibeaudiere. And, much like the signing of the Spaniard, bringing in Latibeaudiere would be a statement of intent.

The 23-year-old has a great pedigree in the youth game, where he was initially billed as a talented centre back. He came through the academy at Manchester City, and was part of the England side that won the U17 World Cup in 2017. During his time with the recent treble winners, he also had a spell on loan at FC Twente in the Netherlands. Another one. Have Argyle set up a scouting network in Enschede without us being aware?

More recently though, Latibeaudiere has been at Swansea City. He’s spent the best part of three years in Wales, but will be released upon the expiry of his contract this summer despite being a first team regular last term. He’s evolved into more of a right back/right wing back over the past couple of years. Whilst he still has the ability to play in the centre of defence, it suggests Argyle may be looking to play him in a Joe Edwards/Bali Mumba sort of role. He’s versatile in any case, making his Jamaica debut just a few days ago in defensive midfield.

The source for this one is internal, which we will understandably not reveal. Without wanting to go all Ted Hastings on you, let’s just say we’ve received an anonymous tip-off. This source has proved reliable in the past, so we’ve got no reason to doubt them now.

They do, however, state that other clubs have made their own offers for Latibeaudiere. We’d therefore stop short of saying the deal is a near certainty. But either way, it’s an exciting indication of the sort of business Argyle are looking to do this summer.

Rumour rating (/5): ★★★★

21/06/23

Argyle have announced the signing of Spanish defender Julio Pleguezuelo on a free transfer from Dutch side FC Twente. Pleguezuelo joins following the expiry of his contract in the Eredivisie, having made 27 appearances last season in the Dutch top flight.

The 26-year-old had various experiences of top-tier academies at youth level, including stints at Barcelona and Arsenal. He even made a senior appearance for the Gunners in an EFL Cup game against Blackpool. More recently, he joined FC Twente in 2019, and rejected a new deal this summer to sign for the Pilgrims.

He’s described as a defender who can also fill in at right back and defensive midfield. Given Argyle’s current system, you’d suspect he’ll be a straight replacement for James Wilson. That may cast doubt over another rumour – Argyle have previously been linked to Liverpool’s Oludare Olufunwa, who plays a very similar role.

Pleguezuelo becomes Argyle’s first ever Spanish player.

Source: pafc.co.uk

19/06/23

Plymouth Argyle have confirmed that academy graduate Adam Randell has signed a new deal at the club. The extension will keep the 22-year-old at Home Park until the summer of 2026.

The central midfielder has scored five goals in 81 appearances for Argyle, including a memorable strike away to Port Vale as the Greens were crowned champions. But it’s Randell’s all-round game that’s really caught the eye over the last 12 months. Finn Azaz was the only Argyle player to have more key passes than him last season, and nobody completed more crosses. Randell also complemented that with a healthy 62% success rate in both ground and aerial duels.

Manager Steven Schumacher concluded that he was “absolutely delighted” to see Randell commit his future to the club.

Source: pafc.co.uk

19/06/23

Rumour: Plymouth Argyle have a “genuine interest” in Newcastle United midfielder Matty Longstaff

Age: 23

Position: Central Midfielder

Last season: 10 appearances

Source: Twitter

Verdict: Ah, our old friends the ‘Tipster Twins’ have taken to Twitter again. I thought after they stopped tweeting in March we’d finally seen the back of them but no, they’re back again with the complete nonsense they like to bring to every transfer window.

The fact that people believe these chancers is staggering. The account exists mainly to post betting tips (and surreptitiously delete punts that don’t come in), but every now and then they post a transfer rumour. And that transfer rumour is only EVER about Plymouth Argyle. I suspect there’s a bored Argyle fan behind the account looking for some engagement. Who are you? Are you reading this? Identify yourself. You need help.

This time they’ve linked us with out-of-contract Newcastle midfielder Matty Longstaff, who you may remember scored the winner against Manchester United on his Premier League debut. Sadly things haven’t gone quite so well in the years since, with Longstaff most recently spending an injury-hit season on loan at League Two strugglers Colchester United. So just the sort of player you’d expect a newly-promoted Championship club to pursue, right?

If you’re going to make up nonsense for likes, at least make it believable.

Rumour rating (/5): ★

18/06/23

Rumour: Plymouth Argyle are targeting Liverpool defender Oludare Olufunwa

Age: 21

Position: Defender

Last season: 0 appearances

Source: Football Insider

Verdict: Yeah, quite a lot of merit in this one I’d say. Olufunwa is set to depart Liverpool this summer on the expiry of his contract, and whilst it’s hard to judge a player who hasn’t broken into the first team at his current club, the clubs being linked suggest he has earned a chance at EFL level.

This is far from a done deal, but the source on this one is fairly solid. Pete O’Rourke in Football Insider likes to link players to a few clubs when he isn’t absolutely certain where they’ll end up, and he’s done so again here. But of the clubs linked – Argyle are listed alongside Bristol Rovers, St Mirren and Kilmarnock in the report – you’d have to say that a move to Home Park is the most attractive prospect.

Olufunwa is primarily a centre back, and indeed he’s been used exclusively there in Premier League 2 and the EFL Trophy this season. But he’s also been known to fill in at right back on occasion. With that in mind, the early indications are he’d be the ideal replacement for James Wilson in Argyle’s current system.

A lot about this deal makes sense, and the source is relatively strong. Let’s keep an eye on this one.

Rumour rating (/5): ★★★★

14/06/23

Rumour: Plymouth Argyle are chasing the signing of Rotherham United’s Chiedozie Ogbene

Age: 26

Position: Winger/Attacking Midfielder

Last season: 9 goals and 4 assists in 42 appearances

Source: Twitter

Verdict: Chiedozie Ogbene looks fairly certain to leave Rotherham this summer. His contract is expiring and reports suggest he has rejected a new deal at the club. If and when he does leave, it’ll be no surprise to see a number of clubs keen on his services.

Ogbene strikes me as the sort of player who’d be a great fit for what I’m calling the ‘Morgan Whittaker role’. Attacking midfield is certainly where he’d best fit Argyle’s current system, but he’s probably most competent as a winger, whilst also having the versatility to play as a striker. He got some solid goal contribution numbers in the Championship last season, and in the last two years he’s earned 15 caps for the Republic of Ireland, scoring four goals.

This rumour has had an interesting trajectory. It really came to prominence recently when a report in the Sheffield Star suggested Argyle, along with Sheffield Wednesday, Luton and Ipswich, were “considering a move” for Ogbene. However, the earliest mention I’ve found for this came a week prior, when BBC Sheffield journalist Rob Straton said that a number of Championship teams, “including the newly promoted sides”, had registered an interest in the player. This news has been recycled further in various publications and across social media.

I just wonder if the evolution of the rumour has left it vulnerable to distortion. Just because Straton mentioned that “the newly promoted sides” are interested, that doesn’t necessarily mean all the newly promoted sides. Look at the clubs also linked: Ipswich and Sheffield Wednesday have had far bigger budgets all season, Luton dwarf them all by being in the Premier League, and Norwich City are now said to be in for Ogbene. If they’re all in, we can’t seriously believe Argyle have the budget to compete with them, can we?

I get the impression that Argyle’s supposed interest here has been mooted without any solid basis. But for a player of this quality I’d be happy to be proved wrong.

Rumour rating (/5): ★★

13/06/23

Plymouth Argyle have confirmed that defender James Wilson will leave the club upon the expiry of his contract this month. Wilson was offered terms to remain at Home Park, but the deadline to accept those terms has now passed. Thus, the offer has been withdrawn.

The now 34-year-old first joined Argyle in the summer of 2021 from Ipswich Town. That was after he’d won the player of the year award with the Tractor Boys the season prior. He ended up making 95 appearances for the Greens, scoring once in a 3-1 win over Milton Keynes in January 2023.

Manager Steven Schumacher was quoted as saying “James played a huge part in our success last season and will forever be a part of the history of this football club. It is a shame we won’t see him in an Argyle shirt again but I wish James all the best moving forward and thank him for all his hard work and commitment during my time at the club.”

Source: pafc.co.uk

11/06/23

Rumour: Notts County, Barnsley and Peterborough United are keen to sign Plymouth Argyle’s Mickel Miller

Age: 27

Position: Wing Back

Last season: 1 assist in 12 appearances

Source: Twitter

Verdict: I dare say a few Argyle fans may have been quietly pleased to hear of potential movement on Miller. His deal since signing for the Greens from Rotherham last summer hasn’t really worked for club or player. I accept he’s looked good in patches, but he’s spent far more time in the treatment room than on the pitch. James Bolton and Conor Grant were released this summer with similar injury records, and I suggest Miller would have been subjected to the same fate had he not had an additional year on his contract.

Alas, I must nip this one in the bud fairly quickly. The source of this rumour is totally unreliable. This particular iteration of the EFL Hub on Twitter, and there are many, has only tweeted 49 times. As we can see from their first tweet, the account was initially set up to provide betting tips, before swiftly turning to transfer rumours.

If I were to be ultra-cynical, I’d suggest that the gambling industry may have a role here in setting up baseless rumours to encourage punters to have a flutter. That may be the case on a wider scale, but I don’t think this account is quite so sophisticated. No, this is a bunch of kids posting random rumours in the hope of getting social media attention. I guess by reporting on it I’ve given them what they wanted. But at what cost to their reputation? I’ll let you be the judge.

I suspect Argyle would listen to offers for Miller this summer. But am I expecting one to arrive based on this tweet alone? Not a chance.

Rumour rating (/5): ★

11/06/23

Rumour: Plymouth Argyle are interested in signing Shrewsbury Town defender Matthew Pennington

Age: 28

Position: Centre Back

Last season: 6 goals and 3 assists in 42 appearances

Source: Twitter

Verdict: I feel like I spend at least a slice of every transfer window assessing Argyle being linked to Matthew Pennington. Honestly, how many times have we been led to believe the Greens have been pursuing him in recent years? You’d have thought if Argyle were serious about the player they’d have signed him at least once by now.

You can see why Argyle have been linked to him so consistently. He’s formerly of Everton, so well known to Steven Schumacher, and he’s certainly looked competent in the EFL through numerous loan spells before his permanent move to Shrewsbury. His goalscoring record this season suggests he can be a threat from set pieces, something which could prove key to Argyle at a higher level. And he’s now out of contract at Shrewsbury so, whilst he has been offered a new deal in Shropshire, this could finally be the perfect time for Argyle to make their move.

But whilst there’s a lot to like, I’m just not convinced. He’s seemed like a young prospect for years, so much so that I was shocked to learn he’s now 28, hardly a spring chicken in football terms. And whilst he’s looked good for a compact Shrewsbury side, playing for a more expansive team at a higher level is another matter entirely. I also don’t hold much confidence in the source; I’ve not come across the “EFL Transfer Hub” account too often before, perhaps not surprising as it was only set up in December last year, but from what I’ve seen they appear to take the scattergun approach to transfer rumours. That is, they try spewing a number out each day and hoping there may be some truth to one or two.

Besides, the rumour also links him with a move to Portsmouth, which could be more appealing. After all, you tend to get more playing time at a lower level.

Rumour rating (/5): ★★

08/06/23

Rumour: Plymouth Argyle will battle a number of clubs to sign former loanee Morgan Whittaker

Age: 22

Position: Attacking Midfielder/Forward

Last season: 10 goals and 7 assists in 46 appearances

Source: Football Insider

Verdict: How lovely would it be to see Argyle bring Morgan Whittaker back to Home Park this summer? It certainly seems like the club won’t die wondering, with more reports now linking the club and the player. This time it’s another rumour originating from Pete O’Rourke who, along with Argyle, has linked Whittaker to Rangers (shock), Sunderland and Coventry City.

To be honest, I’m not sure exactly what this update tells us. Sure, as I can tell you from the latest update on Harvey Knibbs, Pete O’Rourke’s reports are generally reliable. But I’d suggest the majority of his most recent report suggests what we already knew. The fact that O’Rourke is now linking Sunderland and Coventry to the player I guess marks a development, but we’ve got no further evidence that it’s actually true, and even if it is, they may just prove to be a sidenote to the saga.

Signing Whittaker was always going to be a challenge. Swansea reportedly turned down a £1.5m Rangers bid for the player in January, and surely even that price would be out of Argyle’s range. Maybe I’m wrong, and I’d love to be, but I cannot see a route to Argyle signing the player this summer. I fully believe we’re in for him, as the report suggests, but I’d need to see plenty more to get excited.

Rumour rating (/5): ★★★

02/06/23

Rumour: Plymouth Argyle are set to miss out on the signing of Cambridge United’s Harvey Knibbs

Age: 24

Position: Attacking Midfielder/Winger

Last season: 5 goals and 6 assists in 47 appearances

Source: Football Insider

Verdict: Argyle were first linked with Knibbs in the winter transfer window, and not without basis. It’s well documented that the Greens had a bid rejected for Knibbs in January, and Steven Schumacher indicated that he’d look to reopen talks this summer, with Knibbs now out of contract at Cambridge and expected to move on. But if he expected to approach the player unchallenged this summer, he’s set to be disappointed.

This latest update on the player’s future is from Pete O’Rourke in Football Insider. As much as I occasionally take issue with how O’Rourke links players to a number of clubs, this is certainly one of the more reliable rumour sites. What is notable is that O’Rourke’s update doesn’t mention Argyle at all, instead suggesting that Huddersfield Town, Derby County and Bristol City are battling for the player. With the journalist’s desire for namedropping clubs where he can, we may be able to infer that Argyle’s complete absence shows they have turned their attentions elsewhere.

Many Argyle fans were slightly underwhelmed when linked with Knibbs back in January. Sure, he’d looked decent for Cambridge, but he was hardly setting League One alight. The circling by other clubs certainly suggests there is something in Knibbs’ underlying data to back up Argyle’s interest, but that is of course a double-edged sword. This report seems believable, and surely now Argyle aren’t the favourites for Knibbs’ signature.

Rumour rating (/5): ★★★★

02/06/23

Jordan Houghton has become the latest player to sign an extension to his contract at Plymouth Argyle.

The 27-year-old has made exactly 100 appearances for the Greens since a switch from Milton Keynes in 2021. That’s in addition to the appearances he made during a loan spell from Chelsea back in 2016. The midfielder will add to those numbers across the next two years.

Source: pafc.co.uk

27/05/23

Putting an end to recent speculation regarding his future, Dan Scarr has signed a two-year extension to his Plymouth Argyle contract.

The defender, now 28, rose through the non-league ranks before joining Argyle from Walsall in 2021. He’s been a mainstay in the back three ever since, becoming a fan favourite in the process. The Green Army will now be able to enjoy his magic for the next two seasons.

Source: pafc.co.uk

26/05/23

Niall Ennis has departed Plymouth Argyle, and will join Blackburn Rovers on a free transfer. Ennis was offered an extension to his contract, but has opted to become a Rovers player upon its expiry at the end of June.

Ennis first joined Argyle in 2021 during the Greens’ first season back in League One. The 24-year-old shone during the back end of last season, including scoring a memorable overhead kick against Bristol Rovers on the road to the title. He’ll be back at Home Park next season in the away dressing room.

Source: rovers.co.uk

25/05/23

Rumour: Plymouth Argyle are battling for the signature of Notts County striker Macauley Langstaff

Age: 26

Position: Striker

Last season: 41 goals and 6 assists in 47 appearances

Source: Football League World

Verdict: Langstaff will doubtlessly have a variety of suitors this summer. Last season, he broke the record for goals scored in a single National League campaign. And not a single one was a penalty. He’s won promotion with Notts County, and is blatantly too good for the fifth tier.

But is he good enough for the Championship? That’s a question that will divide opinion. It is the sort of move Argyle have been known for though – picking up a player from a less than glamorous surrounding (think Ben Waine from the A League) and looking to make their signing value for money. It’s not beyond the realms of possibility that Argyle have seen something in Langstaff (40+ goals in a season will have that effect) and believe he can make the step up.

So a move is at least feasible, but is the source reliable? As unhelpful as it is, I’ve found that difficult to decipher. The Football League World Twitter account has over 30,000 followers which doesn’t happen overnight. From what I can gather they seem to have built a reputation from aggregating rumours elsewhere, but this is a little different in that it’s branded as an exclusive. It’s harder to judge, as you can rest assured that their significant following wasn’t built on these ‘exclusive’ reports.

If I’m to be a cynic, I’d say that including Ipswich and Wrexham in the rumour is a marketing ploy. Both clubs have just won promotion, as of course have Argyle, and eyes will be on the respective windows of those clubs more than most. Including all three in the report ticks all the clickbait boxes. I’m also a bit perturbed by the wording in the article, which simply states that Argyle and Ipswich are “both keen to take him to the Championship.” It’d hardly scoop of the century.

I have no doubt that Argyle are monitoring Langstaff, along with dozens of other clubs across the country. And I wouldn’t dismiss this rumour out of hand. But before we hear anything more concrete, let’s assume it remains at the ‘monitoring’ stage for now.

Rumour rating (/5): ★★★

25/05/23

Scottish forward Ryan Hardie has signed a new three-year deal at Plymouth Argyle.

The 26-year-old first joined the Greens on loan from Blackpool in January 2020, before making his move permanent a year later. He top-scored for the title-winning Greens last season.

Source: pafc.co.uk

10/05/23

Plymouth Argyle have announced their retained list following the conclusion of the 2022/23 League One title-winning campaign.

13 players remain under contract, whilst an option has been activated to extend the deal of young centre back Oscar Halls. Brendan Galloway has also played enough games across the campaign to trigger an automatic extension to his deal.

Of those out of contract, deals have been offered to five players. Niall Ennis, Ryan Hardie, Jordan Houghton, Dan Scarr and James Wilson have all been offered terms to remain with the Greens.

Heading those released is Danny Mayor, who by all accounts will be moving north to be closer to his family. James Bolton and Conor Grant have also been released after injury-hit campaigns, whilst Luke Jephcott also departs after struggling to find a place in Steven Schumacher’s upgraded formation before a loan at Swindon. Finley Craske, Ryan Law, Adam Parkes and Brandon Pursall will also leave Home Park this summer.

Argyle’s five loanees have simply been listed as returning to their parent clubs. Of course, nobody expected any further news on Finn Azaz, Sam Cosgrove, Nigel Lonwijk, Jay Matete or Bali Mumba before the window officially opens. There could be further movement in the weeks and months to come.

Full retained list:

Under contract: Michael Cooper, Macaulay Gillesphey, Matt Butcher, Joe Edwards, Mickel Miller, Adam Randell, Ben Waine, Saxon Earley, Callum Burton, Callum Wright, Tyreik Wright, Will Jenkins Davies, Caleb Roberts.

Option to extend exercised: Brendan Galloway, Oscar Halls.

Under-18s offered new contracts: Jack Endacott, Zak Baker.

Out of contract, offered new contract: Jordan Houghton, James Wilson, Dan Scarr, Ryan Hardie, Niall Ennis.

Out of contract, released: James Bolton, Conor Grant, Danny Mayor, Luke Jephcott, Adam Parkes, Ryan Law, Finley Craske, Brandon Pursall.

Loan expired: Sam Cosgrove, Bali Mumba, Finn Azaz, Nigel Lonwijk, Jay Matete.

Source: pafc.co.uk