Plymouth Argyle may have already identified their Morgan Whittaker replacement from League One: View | OneFootball

Morgan Whittaker has only been a permanent Plymouth Argyle player for seven months, but he is already turning a lot of heads of teams further up the football pyramid.

Brentford and Fulham were both reported to be keeping tabs on the left-footed wonder through January, while Italian giants Lazio were said to have tabled a significant bid to lure the 23-year-old to the Stadio Olimpico.

The former Swansea man decided to stay in Devon for the rest of the season, but with 17 league goals and seven assists to his name already this season the Pilgrims will do well to keep hold of their star man through the summer.

Argyle have been shrewd operators in the transfer market in recent years though, and look to already have a replacement up their sleeve if they decide to cash in on Whittaker; and that man is Reading’s Femi Azeez.

The Femi Azeez contract situation

The Greens were said to be linked to the Royals’ wide man in the recent January transfer window but failed to agree a deal, and will be sure to continue their interest when the season comes to a close.

The 22-year-old’s contract will come to an end during the summer, meaning he will be available for peanuts compared to what he would have been during January, and if Whittaker moves on he has shown all the signs of being able to make the move up to the second tier.

Azeez has been one of the few shining lights in a dismal season for the former Premier League outfit, with his seven goals in all competitions helping them climb out of the relegation places in League One in recent weeks.

The young starlet grabbed the winner in a 3-2 victory over Exeter City on New Year’s Day, before a terrific brace against relegation rivals Charlton Athletic a fortnight ago helped maintain his side’s recent record of just one defeat in their last eight league games.

Femi Azeez can be Morgan Whittaker 2.0 for Plymouth Argyle

A left foot like Whittaker’s is hard to replicate at any level, but Azeez has shown enough quality for a side that has fallen on hard times to prove that he is a cut above the rest in League One, and if he keeps his current side in the division he will be seen as a hero in Berkshire.

Both players lend themselves to being fans’ favourites at their respective sides, with their moments of magic changing a game in an instant - that rare ability to find the net from all angles, as well as thread a killer pass into a teammate.

You only have to look at that double against Charlton recently to see the quality oozing out of Azeez’s left peg; two excellently executed volleys sealed the points for Reading that day, but the strike against Exeter screams of Whittaker 2.0.

Drifting in from the right side, the playmaker picks up the ball 25 yards from goal; one touch to settle himself, one more to rifle the ball into the bottom corner, something we have seen time and time again from Whittaker in a green shirt, and won many a game with a moment of sheer quality.

Whittaker had a similar return of nine goals and seven assists in League One last season before he was recalled from his loan spell at Home Park by parent club Swansea in January.

He has set the Championship alight since returning on a permanent £1 million deal in the summer and there is no reason why Azeez can’t do the same given the chance.