Plymouth Argyle: Morgan Whittaker transfer silence must remain for Wayne Rooney success: View | OneFootball

The new Pilgrims boss will be hoping his star man remains out the limelight until August is over

No news is good news, as the old saying goes, and in the case of Plymouth Argyle and Morgan Whittaker, that adage has never been more apt.

The former Swansea City man was the talk of the town in the January transfer window, with a number of Premier League clubs said to be interested in his signature, as the Pilgrims fought hard to keep hold of their prized possession.

But six months on, there is nothing but radio silence concerning the left-footed wonder, an update that will be warmly welcomed by everyone at Home Park and beyond.

New Argyle boss Wayne Rooney will be hoping things stay that way until the transfer window slams shut on August 30th, with Whittaker likely to hold the keys to success during his time at Home Park.

Wayne Rooney must do everything to keep hold of Morgan Whittaker during Plymouth Argyle reign

Rooney was appointed as Argyle boss last month, and will have known all about his star man’s attributes, having played with - and then managed - the goal-getter during his time at Derby County.

In fact, it was the former Manchester United man who was in charge when Whittaker departed the club for Wales in the January of 2021, for a reported fee of £700,000.

Three years on, and the pair are reunited in Devon, with the 23-year-old at the peak of his powers, and his boss looking to reignite his career after a terrible time at Birmingham City.

Whittaker netted 19 goals for Argyle last season, and assisted a further eight; figures which saw him contribute to 45.8% of his side’s total tally across the campaign.

The forward’s influence on this Argyle side can’t be understated, and it was no surprise when Premier League clubs - as well as a European giant - came calling six months ago in the hope of luring him away from Home Park.

But home is where the heart is, albeit that’s what seemed to be the case at the start of the year, as the Greens managed to keep hold of their main man, with a £15 million price tag put on his head to fend off any would-be suitors.

That valuation was enough to stop the likes of Brentford and Fulham in their tracks in their mid-season pursuits, while Serie A side Lazio were also knocked back after making an attempt to lure him to the continent.

Morgan Whittaker transfer interest cools after Brentford and Fulham January efforts

Maybe it’s the Pilgrims playing hard ball, or maybe it is the playmaker’s second-half of the season form, but there have so far been no reports of any further interest in Whittaker this summer, which will be music to the ears of everyone of a green persuasion during the off-season.

Whether it was the transfer speculation getting into his head, or the loss of the likes of Luke Cundle and Finn Azaz, but the hotshot only managed four goals from January onwards in the previous campaign, with his early-season form tapering off towards the end of the season.

Not that he was alone in that regard, with the Pilgrims failing to find the net more than one in any of their final 12 league games, with Championship status only secured with final day victory over Hull City.

That’s not to say Whittaker didn’t have a key part to play in the run-in, with the winner against former side Swansea City backed up with vital strikes in draws with Blackburn Rovers and Coventry City.

An inch-perfect ball saw him set up Bali Mumba for the winner against Rotherham United in April, with Argyle’s survival in the second tier boosting their chances of retaining the right-sided star this summer.

Rooney’s arrival could well help those chances of keeping hold of him past August, with the former England striker having a major influence on the Argyle man’s career already.

Speaking to Derbyshire Live during his Derby County days, Whittaker said: "It's quite funny actually because it all started when I was a mascot on my eighth birthday against Man United and that's how I got to sign for the club.

"It's so surreal to think that I first met him as a mascot at that young age and now I get to train with him and learn off of him every day.

"He's been great with us all - on and off the pitch. He is such an influential voice on the pitch, not just in games but in training."

And if he does stay, the influence Whittaker can have on games will make him a player Rooney will lean on heavily, with his vision, technique, and ability to find the goal from range earning his side plenty of points in the previous campaign.

It may be early days in this summer’s transfer window, but the lack of mentions regarding their number 10 is something that all those with an Argyle association hope continues for two more months, and none more so than the man in the dugout.