Plymouth Argyle should continue Tottenham transfer trend by swooping for striker | OneFootball

Plymouth Argyle could do another deal with Tottenham Hotspur to boost their promotion chances

Plymouth Argyle are well underway with preparations for their upcoming League One campaign.

The Pilgrims ended last season 11th in the Championship form table but couldn’t overturn their disastrous start under Wayne Rooney and suffered relegation.

New manager Tom Cleverley has added Aribim Pepple, Jack MacKenzie, Brendan Wiredu, Caleb Watts, Bradley Ibrahim, Xavier Amaechi, Jamie Paterson, Owen Oseni and Ayman Benarous to his ranks during the early stages of the transfer window.

This has already given them a slight edge over the other promotion candidates, but Argyle can’t rest on their laurels.

Adding extra quality when market opportunities occur late in the window can make a real difference across 46 games and these often happen in the shape of loan deals.

Plymouth Argyle should make another Tottenham Hotspur swoop after Alfie Devine, Ash Phillips successes - Dane Scarlett would fit the bill

The Pilgrims have had great success in the loan market recently, especially when Tottenham Hotspur have been the parent club.

In January 2024, Argyle were looking to add some extra strength to their squad as they aimed to retain their Championship status.

In came Tottenham Hotspur pair Ashley Phillips and Alfie Devine, who featured consistently for the rest of the campaign.

The duo helped give Plymouth the slight edge needed to achieve their goal of survival, beating out Birmingham City by a single point after 46 games, and both players have gone on to develop further away from north London - Devine played for Westerlo in the Belgian top flight last season, whilst Phillips had a productive stint at Stoke City.

Now back in League One, Cleverley and the Plymouth recruitment team could try to do another deal with Spurs, even though they're in a division lower than when they struck deals for Phillips and Devine, but they could offer a certain player regular minutes that are desperately needed.

Dane Scarlett spent the first half of last season on loan with second-tier outfit Oxford United. The 21-year-old netted four times for the Championship side but was recalled in January and subsequently saw his game-time dwindle.

Despite this, he scored against Elfsborg in the Europa League, highlighting the vast potential the striker still possesses.

Scarlett displayed the natural inconsistencies that come with his tender age with Oxford United last term, but a move to a competitive League One outfit could be just what he needs to get his development back on track.

With creative influences such as Benarous, Amaechi, Paterson and Watts freshly installed into the squad, Scarlett would provide an exciting, energetic young forward to try and convert the chances they produce.

Furthermore, the forward could combine with fellow marksman Pepple and allow Cleverley to operate with two players up front.

This duo would give League One defences nightmares all year long, consistently stretching backlines with continuous runs in behind.

Scarlett completed 0.91 successful take-ons per game last year, highlighting his ability to beat a man and cause problems. This trait can prove crucial for more competitive teams in a division, who will have to break down multiple low blocks across 46 games.

Argyle’s new manager has shown his willingness to develop young players in the past and could use this opportunity to harness a striker with such vast potential.

Dane Scarlett would relish Plymouth Argyle opportunity

Last season would’ve been a frustrating one for Scarlett, who showed in moments why he is so highly rated by Spurs.

His sharp attacking instinct and explosive playing style would make him a brilliant asset for a lot of teams in the second-tier, but his adaptation to the physicality of that level didn’t allow the striker to show what he can do to full effect.

In League One, he will be provided with a slightly less harsh division to acclimatise to, and his natural ability should stand out more.

Therefore, the 21-year-old would jump at the opportunity to join a competitive third-tier outfit, where he would be given a perfect platform to continue his development and score a hatful of goals.