Plymouth Argyle could land big cash windfall but Tom Cleverley won't want it anytime soon | OneFootball

Lorent Tolaj has enjoyed an exceptional start to life as a Plymouth Argyle player

Lorent Tolaj has begun his Plymouth Argyle career in fine form, with five goals in his opening eight games in all competitions.

The 23-year-old was singled out by many at the beginning of the season as someone who could truly make a name for himself in League One, after being a huge part of Port Vale's attack last term, scoring 14 and assisting eight in 37 League Two outings.

Tolaj started this campaign at Vale Park, but made the move to Home Park in the final week of the summer transfer window after the £1.2 million release clause was triggered in his Port Vale contract.

It's safe to say that the Swiss man is thriving in Tom Cleverley's free-flowing attacking style in Devon, and it may not be long until sides from even further up the EFL are sniffing around for the services of Tolaj, who was playing in the National League a mere two seasons ago at Aldershot Town.

If and when that day comes, you'd bank on the Pilgrims making a significant profit on the £1.2 million they spent this summer. But you'd also assume that the new Plymouth boss doesn't want that day to come anytime soon.

Lorent Tolaj is tearing up League One at Plymouth Argyle

The talent was there for Tolaj at youth level, being snapped up from the Sion youth team in his home country of Switzerland by Brighton and Hove Albion in 2018, a side who have become well renowned for developing some quality up-and-coming talent.

Unfortunately, despite being a goalscoring force at U18 level, his incredible ability in front of goal never translated into loan spells down in League One and Two with Cambridge United and Salford City, respectively, and he was allowed to fall into non-league, before working his way back up.

After contributing towards 30 goals in his first National League campaign, then 22 in his first full season back in League Two last term, the 23-year-old is showing that he's ready to average those types of numbers in League One, too.

Tolaj is a striker who, simply put, loves to take shots, and he takes them at a rate that produces plenty of expected goals. His 5.93 is the highest in League One, and a whole 1.4 more than anyone else in the third tier.

1.29 of that number came during his time at Port Vale, in which he scored just once, meaning that, at Plymouth, he's got an xG of 4.64 in just six games.

Clearly, the Swiss man, like any striker would, is enjoying his time playing for a Tom Cleverley side who prioritises attacking football. The Pilgrims have already seen two four-goal hauls in league action this season, and have netted 11 in their last four games as a team.

There may be some frustrations around his high xG number leading to just four goals, but you'd imagine over a 46-game season that it will all even out, and the fact he's getting into those positions at an incredible rate will be a real worry for any League One defence that has to handle him.

Tom Cleverley will hope to keep Lorent Tolaj for as long as possible

Whilst the amount of goalscoring opportunities Tolaj is getting into will be a worry for defences, it may also become an issue for Tom Cleverley, who will be hoping that sides in higher divisions don't register their interest in their new striker.

The 23-year-old has jumped up the divisions at a rapid rate, spending just one year in the fifth and fourth tier, and if he carries on playing at this rate, there's no reason why he can't make his stint in the third tier last just one season, too.

Tolaj has the best years of his career still left ahead of him, and it'll be inevitable that he'll move on to bigger and better things in terms of divisions when his time at Home Park is done.

Tom Cleverley and the Plymouth fans will be hoping that this inevitability can be delayed for at least a few seasons, however, as Tolaj may hold the keys to an eventual Championship return down in Devon.