Football League World
·21 décembre 2024
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·21 décembre 2024
This trio could well be the subject of interest once 2025 gets underway
With the January transfer window fast approaching, EFL clubs will be casting an eye over new recruits, while also looking to keep hold of their top talent for the remainder of the season.
Staving off interest in their stars has become something of a familiar feeling for Plymouth Argyle of late, with the Greens doing their utmost not have their heads turned by the money thrown their way, in the hope of taking a player or two off their hands.
While Michael Cooper was the main departure in the summer, the Pilgrims managed to keep hold of the majority of their squad from the previous campaign, but with January approaching, there is sure to be clubs circling once again.
Here we take a look at three players who could well be the subject of a bid next month, with the Devon outfit set for a busy start to 2025 to try and turn around their fortunes on the pitch.
It is no surprise to see Morgan Whittaker top of this list, with the left-footed star being the subject of reported interest for the best part of a year now, with the last two transfer windows seeing bids rejected for his services.
Italian giants Lazio have been credited with interest back in January 2024, while Burnley and Rangers were said to have been sniffing around in the summer, but Wayne Rooney and those in charge at Home Park rejected any offers coming their way.
Although he hasn’t been as prolific as his 19-goal campaign in the previous season, there is no doubt that Whittaker still has the talent in his boots to perform higher up the football pyramid, and clubs may well want to take a punt with the Greens finding themselves in the midst of a relegation battle in the Championship.
A toe injury has seen him play his last action of 2024 already, and while that is a setback to the Pilgrims on the pitch of late, it could be a blessing in disguise in terms of keeping hold of the player for the remainder of the season.
While there have been a number of concerns for Argyle throughout the 24/25 campaign to date, the performances of Bali Mumba don’t fall into that category, with the former Norwich City man always offering an outlet on whichever side of the field he pops up on.
Capable of playing in a defensive role or further forward, the energetic bundle of creativity can be considered as one of the players to come out of the start of the campaign with the most credit, given the Pilgrims’ troubles of late.
Although there has been no speculation surrounding the 23-year-old’s future, Mumba would be one of the main players that other clubs might target in January, with a mix of loan stars and bargain buys seeing the majority of the squad unlikely to be under consideration at this moment in time.
Although he is not technically their player, Argyle will be fearing any bids for Toulouse FC loanee Ibrahim Cissoko this winter, with the Dutchman excelling during the early part of the season in Devon.
The tricky winger has had to sit on the sidelines during the past couple of months due to a hip issue, but looks set to return to action in the new year, with Rooney able to unleash him on the Championship once again.
Three goals in ten league matches proved that the 21-year-old is capable of making a massive difference in the second tier, but there will be a lingering doubt among the Green Army, due to the terms of the winger’s loan deal.
Director of Football Neil Dewsnip confirmed earlier in the year that the Greens have first refusal should a club come in with a bid in January, but if that offer it is out of their budgetary restraints, they could find themselves losing Cissoko for the second-half of the season.
Like Whittaker, the injury issues could actually help Argyle in that regard, with the Dutch under-21 international being out of action since October, with clubs unlikely to want to splash the cash on a player needing to regain fitness at the start of the year.