Plymouth Argyle will not sell star player Morgan Whittaker this summer, according to Plymouth Live.
Championship rivals Burnley were said to be plotting moves for both Whittaker and Millwall’s Zian Flemming, according to journalist Darren Witcoop. Whittaker has been the subject of interest in this window so far, but it looks like he’s staying put on the South Coast.
He joined Argyle from Swansea City initially on a loan deal when the Greens were in League One. Even though the 23-year-old returned to the Swans in the January window, Plymouth still achieved promotion from the third tier, and then subsequently brought Whittaker back to Home Park at the start of the 2023/24 season. In total, at Plymouth, Whittaker has made 85 appearances, scoring 30 goals and assisting a further 16 in all competitions.
He scored his first goal of the season for Wayne Rooney’s Plymouth last week, with a wonder strike against Queen’s Park Rangers.
These numbers have been enough for multiple clubs to turn an eye towards him, and the Clarets were plotting a last-minute move amid the departures of some of their top players.
Burnley suffered relegation back down to the Championship under Vincent Kompany last season. Kompany has since moved on, joining German giants Bayern Munich, and a new manager, in the form of the experienced Scott Parker, has taken the hot seat at Turf Moor.
Since taking charge at Burnley, Parker has faced a rocky start. Burnley have seen a high volume of turnover, with numerous arrivals and departures reshaping the squad. A significant number have exited the recently relegated club on permanent deals. Notable among those moving on are Charlie Taylor, Arijanet Muric, Sander Berge, Dara O’Shea, and Wilson Odobert, all of whom have returned to Premier League football.
In response to the upheaval, Burnley have brought in 11 new players as they aim to bounce back to the Premier League at the first attempt. Despite the challenges of a high turnover, Parker’s side has started well on the pitch, winning two of their first three games.
Argyle, on the other hand, have had a rocky start to life in their second season on the trot in the Championship. They are winless so far but have drawn two of their three games after kicking off the season with a disappointing 4-0 loss to Sheffield Wednesday.
Writer’s View
Keeping hold of Whittaker was arguably the best possible business Plymouth could’ve done in this window, and it looks like they are going to do just that. Whilst there is uncertainty surrounding Rooney as Green’s manager, there is no doubt that having a player such as the 23-year-old on the pitch does influence things, in a good way.
For Burnley, this window has been so frustrating. They have lost so many of their better players, and with such little time left, it is unlikely that any club is going to want to lose their best player with just under seven hours left of the window. Parker will be hoping that something will become available, as he must be desperate for replacement recruits.
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