Plymouth Argyle: Wigan Athletic action can change Sheffield United narrative: View | OneFootball

Bringing in Sam Tickle as a replacement for Michael Cooper would be a wonderful bit of business for the Greens

Key Takeaways

Ever since Wayne Rooney took charge of Plymouth Argyle, he has had a goalkeeping conundrum on his hands.

A matter of weeks after the former Manchester United man was appointed as the Greens boss, number one Michael Cooper turned down an offer of a new deal at Home Park, which immediately caused chaos among the ranks in Devon.

After weeks of uncertainty, the 24-year-old finally made the move to fellow Championship side Sheffield United earlier in the month, leaving Conor Hazard as the only real choice between the sticks, with teenager Zak Baker the second choice as it stands.

But the Greens still have time to act before the transfer window comes to a close next week, and with reports of a move for Wigan Athletic’s Sam Tickle start to circulate, they could well have another top prospect on their hands before too long.

Michael Cooper contract controversy

The fact that Cooper reportedly turned down a deal to become the highest-paid player at the club was an immediate cause for concern for Rooney during his time at the club, with the shot-stopper proving himself to be one of the most exciting prospects in the EFL.

Having featured in 141 matches for the Greens, the local lad had been the first-choice with the gloves for each of the past four seasons, although injury saw his game time limited in each of the past two campaigns.

Initially, Argyle were prepared to play hardball for Cooper, with bids rejected from Sheffield United over the course of the summer, but as time went on, a move to Yorkshire looked more and more likely.

The final nail in the coffin was Rooney’s decision to play Hazard in the opening match of the season against Sheffield Wednesday, with the Blades target sat on the bench, with a move away from the club looking likely to be days away.

And so it proved, with Chris Wilder’s side announcing the deal a matter of days later, with Argyle reportedly receiving £2 million up front for his services, with another £2 million potentially coming their way in add-ons.

The feeling around the fanbase was one of dejection after Cooper’s departure, with one of their own deserting them when they needed it the most, but with Tickle talk in the air, there could still be reason for optimism among the Green Army before August comes to an end.

Sam Tickle can help to allay Plymouth Argyle goalkeeper issues

As good as Hazard is at shot-stopping, Rooney wants his goalkeeper to be a prominent part of the side when they are in possession, and the Northern Irishman does nothing but panic with the ball at his feet.

This was seen time and time again in the Hillsborough humbling to start the season, and while he is obviously working on that area of his game, the side need someone who is naturally comfortable spraying the ball around and linking up with his defenders.

Tickle is a player who has been widely tipped for the top ever since he made the Latics’ number one spot his own at the start of last season, with a number of strong performances between the sticks for Shaun Maloney’s side.

Having featured in every league game for the 2013 FA Cup winners in the previous campaign, the 22-year-old proved himself to be one of the outstanding stoppers in the division, with 14 clean sheets and just 56 goals conceded.

With cash to splash after Cooper’s departure, Argyle should be breaking the bank for a player who has featured internationally at youth level in the past, although his lengthy contract could prove to be a stumbling block.

Hazard is the only 'keeper with professional experience at the club at this moment in time, so the Greens need to act fast to bring in a replacement, because a season with the former Celtic custodian won’t fill many with confidence, due to his distribution too often being wayward.