Sheffield United submit fresh Michael Cooper offer as Plymouth Argyle set new price-tag | OneFootball

Sheffield United and Crystal Palace are both looking towards other targets after the announcement.

Plymouth Argyle have doubled their price-tag for star goalkeeper Michael Cooper to £6 million in a bid to stave off interest from Premier League outfit Crystal Palace, as well as the Pilgrims' divisional rivals Sheffield United.

That is according to a report from journalist Alan Nixon via his Patreon account, having claimed a few weeks ago that the Devon outfit initially wanted £3 million for the goalkeeper, who is out of contract at the end of the season.

Sheffield United had made the shot-stopper a number one target this window after he kept six clean sheets in the Championship last season in just 19 appearances, with Chris Wilder's current options in-between the sticks at Bramall Lane looking thin on the ground.

The Blades have had another bid turned down for Cooper though as of Sunday morning, as per Alan Nixon via his Patreon, in an offer that totals close to £3 million including add-ons - that is way short of whaat Argyle want for one of their start players, but Cooper is said to be keen on a move to South Yorkshire.

However, in a summer of change at Home Park, new Plymouth manager Wayne Rooney is doing all he can to keep their competition away from Cooper, with Crystal Palace looking into a move for the 24-year-old at a later date - potentially in January.

Michael Cooper is imperative to Plymouth Argyle's 2024-25 season

Argyle will want to keep hold of their number one at all costs, with his crucial saves proving very important to the team's promotion to the Championship, despite suffering an ACL injury in February 2023.

He returned to the team in October, and conceded just 14 goals in nine games before he faced another lengthy spell out.

However, his impact on the side is without question, playing in every minute that he was fit, helping Argyle to safety with a clean sheet on the final day.

With a whole season ahead of him, this time without any lingering injury problems, Cooper could be the difference between relegation and survival, making him a key asset to Rooney, who will want a high price-tag to be able to replace one of the division's best shot-stoppers.

Sheffield United may move on if Michael Cooper saga drags on

After another failed bid to sign the 24-year-old, Sheffield United may move on to other targets to avoid wasting any more time in their search for a new goalkeeper.

Carl Rushworth is also on the mind of Wilder, with the Brighton & Hove Albion man linked with another loan move to the Championship, following a season with Swansea City last time out, as per Alan Nixon's Patreon.

Cooper is the obvious target for the Blades, after proving himself to be more than capable in the second tier in a limited number of matches in 2023/24. However, with less than three weeks until the transfer deadline, they could move on to the perhaps easier target of Rushworth.

With Cooper refusing to sign a new deal at Plymouth, there is a chance that he will still be available come January, but, there may be even greater competition as his contract ticks down.

A heftier bid in the coming days may change the minds of the Argyle hierarchy, but, they will also be looking for a replacement before anything is signed.