Plymouth Argyle pulled off Swansea City transfer masterstroke and will be rewarded | OneFootball

Plymouth Argyle poaching Morgan Whittaker from Swansea City in 2023 was a stroke of genius by the Pilgrims.

After impressing on loan at Plymouth Argyle, the Devon club brought Morgan Whittaker back permanently the following summer. It would prove to be a very smart deal.

The winger is currently a prized asset at Home Park, following his key contributions that kept the Janners in the Championship last season. Argyle broke their transfer record to sign Whittaker permanently, but they could be in for a hefty profit should he be sold.

By all accounts, Plymouth have played a blinder by snatching Whittaker from Swansea City for just £1m, as his continued excellent performances have guaranteed them a tasty return on investment when the time comes to cash in.

There has been no shortage of interest in Whittaker over the last few transfer windows, but with the Argyle star being contracted to the club until 2027, Plymouth are under no pressure to accept any of these bids.

The 24-year-old is currently finding his feet again in the Argyle setup, following a stint on the sidelines with injury earlier in the season. His beautiful solo goal against Brentford in the FA Cup last week will certainly be the lift he was looking for.

Turning Morgan Whittaker loan permanent was key for Plymouth Argyle

Plymouth proved to be the surprise package of the 2022/23 season in League One. After smashing it in the loan market by signing Whittaker and Bali Mumba, Steven Schumacher's men wrapped up the title with a victory over Port Vale.

A first venture into the Championship in over 10 years awaited the Pilgrims, but there was some worry that losing their loan stars would see them struggle to survive. Fortunately, this wouldn't be the case, as both loanees would return, but this time, for good.

Both Mumba and Whittaker were out of favour at their respective clubs, and the successful loans to Plymouth didn't change their situations. This meant both Swansea and Norwich City were open to selling, should Argyle table a bid that they deemed acceptable. The Devon-based club did just that.

For a reported £2m combined, the Janners brought back both of their star loanees to help them in their battle to become an established Championship club. They would achieve just this, securing survival on the final day of the season with a win over Hull City. If it wasn't for Whittaker's contributions, the Pilgrims would've undoubtedly succumbed to the drop.

Morgan Whittaker is important for Plymouth Argyle's future

Whilst nobody likes the thought of losing a player, Argyle fans will probably accept that Whittaker will move on at some point in the future, whether that's this summer or further down the line.

However, the fee they will be able to command for their star man will undoubtedly soften the blow of losing him, especially when you consider how little he was signed for. The club could potentially make 15 to 20 times the amount they paid for his services in 2023.

But with a contract until 2027, there is absolutely no pressure for that sale to be made anytime soon. The Greens will also be able to command a much bigger fee, given the remaining duration of his contract.

All in all, locking the winger down to a long-term deal and paying the money that Swansea wanted was a stroke of genius by the Devon club. Not only have his on-pitch contributions helped the club maintain their Championship status, but the financial security he brings in the future will also play a massive part in that.