Morgan Whittaker may have Fulham or West Ham hope amid Plymouth Argyle struggles: View | OneFootball

Plymouth Argyle forward Morgan Whittaker may look to use January's interest in him as a Home Park exit route this summer should the Pilgrims fail to escape the threat of relegation.

The 23-year-old first joined Argyle on loan in the 2022/23 season, before the transfer was made permanent last summer for a club-record fee, believed to be in the region of £1million.

This season, following that deal, Whittaker has put together his most productive season to date, attracting attention from a number of Premier League sides.

A tough run of results for the Pilgrims has seen them slip agonisingly close to the relegation zone, and a failure to climb to safety in the Championship will surely lead to Whittaker exploring the interest in his services more closely.

predominately down the right flank, but also taking up central positions on occasion, Whittaker has been a lethal force for Argyle this season.

Starting 35 of the 36 available league games so far this season, and being subbed on in the remaining game, the 23-year-old has scored 17 goals and provided seven assists, which is a remarkable haul when working in a side that sit just two points above the relegation spots.

Those figures make Whittaker the club's top scorer and top assist provider, both by a fair distance, alluding to the fact that Argyle are somewhat reliant on the young attacker this season, and would likely be in significantly more trouble if he wasn't present.

Whittaker attracted top-level interest in January

Those numbers also currently make Whittaker the joint-second top scorer in the whole league, a tally that is bound to make teams in higher leagues sit up and take notice, especially when compared to the relative league position of the team he is scoring for.

It therefore came as little surprise when it was reported by Football Insider that a Premier League trio of Fulham, Brentford and West Ham were battling for the Championship star's signature in January.

His performances have also caught the eye of top European teams, with Serie A side Lazio also declaring an interest in Whittaker.

If the January window is anything to go by, should Whittaker want to depart Argyle in the summer, it seems that he will have no shortage of attractive options to mull over.

The four-year contract signed by the player last summer will not make this a cheap deal for prospective buyers, but the potential fee may come down if Plymouth's hand is forced through relegation back to League One.

A move seems certain if Plymouth slip back into League One

Having put up some of the most competitive numbers in the second tier, at the age of just 23, it would make no sense to anyone to see Whittaker drop down and play his football in the third tier next season.

Although only two points above the relegation zone currently, an uptick in results could see Argyle climb away from the drop zone quickly, and would give the club more breathing space when it comes to the offers and negotiations that are bound to arise for a player like Whittaker.

However, if their worst fears are realised, it would seem almost impossible that the player could continue at Home Park, and Plymouth would have less room to negotiate a substantial fee.

Survival and a comfortable mid-table finish will be the aim for the Pilgrims now, a task made more likely with a player like Whittaker in the ranks. He will likely play a key role in any escape, and it could have notable ramifications for his own future at the club.