Joe Taylor signs: Plymouth Argyle should secure these 2 shrewd transfers before August 30th | OneFootball

This pair could add plenty to the Argyle squad for the upcoming campaign, and the Greens should pounce while they can

Plymouth Argyle have made a name for themselves in recent seasons by making the most of their resources in the transfer market and finding plenty of hidden gems along the way.

The likes of Morgan Whittaker, Bali Mumba, and Finn Azaz have all blossomed at Home Park over the past couple of years, as well as last season’s loanees Luke Cundle, Kaine Kesler-Hayden and Ash Phillips.

The Pilgrims are always trying to spend their money wisely or utilise the loan market to get a top player in for the season to add that extra bit of quality to the squad and there is no question it will be a similar story this time around.

As Wayne Rooney gets his preparations underway for his first season as Argyle boss, here we take a look at a couple of shrewd investments the Devon side could make this summer to add that extra sprinkle of class into the squad.

Freddie Potts

The 23/24 campaign was something of a breakthrough season for Freddie Potts, with the West Ham United loanee shining in central midfield for Wycombe Wanderers in League One.

The 20-year-old featured 36 times in league competition for the Chairboys, scoring twice and assisting just as many, and won many plaudits for his assuredness on the ball, as well as his penchant for breaking up opposition attacks.

The young star was an unflappable presence in the middle of Adams Park during the most recent campaign, and that ability to sniff out danger is something Argyle could do with ahead of their next stab at Championship football.

Only three teams conceded more than the Pilgrims’ 70 league goals last season, with many a Championship side able to carve straight through the middle of the Greens’ side, something that will need to be addressed in the summer transfer window.

A player of Potts’ potential who can get stuck in, win his headers, as well as track a runner when needed, would be well-suited to a role the centre of the park next season, even if it was just on a loan deal from the Premier League side.

The midfielder has already spoken about taking the chance to impress new boss Julen Lopetegui when pre-season gets underway for the Hammers, but with the sort of quality the top-flight side possess at this moment in time, a Championship loan could be the best move for him this summer.

Argyle would welcome him with open arms to Devon next season if the decision is made to spend another season out on loan, and if they made him theirs he would add an extra layer of steeliness into the central midfield role for the upcoming campaign.

Joe Taylor

The Pilgrims struggled in the final third during the second half of last season, having failed to score more than a single goal in any of their last 12 league matches of the season.

The free-flowing football from the start of the campaign swiftly dried up after Steven Schumacher’s departure - along with the likes of Azaz and Cundle - and as a result Argyle were left fighting for their Championship status until the final day.

That shot-shy squad needs to be bolstered in the coming months, and the addition of Joe Taylor from Luton Town could prove to be a very handy piece of business if they were to get their hands on him.

The striker had excelled for both Colchester United and Lincoln City in the past 12 months, with successful loan spells at both sides over the course of the campaign that caught the eye across the EFL.

After notching 11 goals in 25 League Two games for the U’s before January, the frontman went on to score a further ten in 19 League One matches for the Imps before the end of the season, making him one of the sharpest-shooters in the Football League.

With his willingness to run in behind and pace to get away from defenders, Taylor could fit perfectly into the Argyle system, and provide competition for Ryan Hardie in the main striker role at the club.

Having the likes of Carlton Morris and Elijah Adebayo above him in the pecking order at Kenilworth Road, it would be no surprise to see Taylor leave in search of regular first-team football next season, and his goals could prove all the difference for Argyle if they were to get their hands on him.

Rooney is a man who will know a good striker when he sees one and will have a certain pulling power due to his high profile in the game and if he took the 21-year-old under his wing, the results could be explosive.