Bolton Wanderers midfielder signs: How Plymouth Argyle's dream January transfer window looks | OneFootball

What Plymouth Argyle must do to have the dream January transfer window.

Plymouth Argyle need to dive into the transfer market in January to try and give Tom Cleverley the tools required to steer the club away from the trapdoor in League One.

It's fair to say the Pilgrims have been the big shock in League One so far this season, but for all the wrong reasons, as they currently sit in the relegation zone of the third tier of English football after dropping from the Championship earlier in 2025.

Whilst there have been some positives, such as the emergence of Lorent Tolaj, and the return of Derek Adams as sporting director, these have been massively outweighed by the struggles on the pitch, and the serious injury crisis the Devon-based club is facing.

It was a busy summer at Home Park, with a revolving door of players and a new head coach taking the reins, but injuries have taken their toll, and Cleverley's squad has been left threadbare as of late.

With the January transfer window just around the corner, Football League World decided to look at three key things that Argyle must ensure they address to have the dream winter window.

Signing Tyler Goodrham on loan from Oxford United

One area all Pilgrims supporters will agree is in desperate need of strengthening is the flanks. Starting attacking midfielders Xavier Amaechi and Caleb Watts have both been missing through injury, which coincided with the dip in form that saw the club hit the foot of the League One table.

Whilst both could be back by January, it's clear another option is needed out wide, as the likes of Bali Mumba and Owen Dale haven't impressed whilst deputising for the injured duo.

One man who could be available is Oxford United starlet Tyler Goodrham, who is struggling for minutes at the Kassam Stadium, and could reportedly be available for loan in the winter transfer window.

Goodrham is the perfect short-term solution to Argyle's issues in the wide areas. He would bring that youthful exuberance whilst also boasting plenty of experience at League One and Championship level.

A quick, direct, and skillful winger, the 22-year-old also brings plenty of versatility to a side which is crying out for reinforcements. He is comfortable playing on either wing, or through the middle as a number 10.

If Goodrham does become available in January, Argyle must fight tooth and nail to win what will undoubtedly be a massive race for his signature, as he boasts the qualities of a winger that Cleverley has been needing for his system.

One signing that Plymouth got bang on the money in the summer was the £1.2m acquisition of Tolaj from Port Vale, after facing multiple setbacks in their pursuit of a new number nine to replace Wrexham-bound Ryan Hardie.

The Swiss forward has been a shining light, so to speak, as not only his goals but his overall play has been crucial in the results that the Greens have managed to pick up thus far.

Tolaj has everything in his locker to make him a success; pace, strength, finishing, aerial prowess, hold-up play, exceptional movement, you name it, the striker has it all, and has really established himself as one of the very best at League One level.

Despite only being at the club for a matter of months, it would not be a surprise to see a Championship side try and capitalise on Argyle's current situation, and lodge a bid to prize the former Port Vale star away from Home Park.

However, Plymouth must ensure they don't allow this, as Tolaj has proven to be unstoppable when he has the service, and finding a striker with his skillset is a real commodity, especially at League One level.

With that in mind, Tolaj would like be irreplaceable, especially in January, and even if the club's league position doesn't improve, Argyle must do all they can to assemble a supporting cast which can not only bring the best out of their star man, but help propel the team up the table.

Adding experienced midfielder Josh Sheehan to their ranks

Argyle's midfield unit is a different can of worms, as over the poor run of form, Cleverley's side has really struggled to find any sort of balance in the engine room, which has led to them being overrun in the middle of the park, and not having much direction to their play.

To address this, the club added Cardiff City legend Joe Ralls on a short-term deal until January, but it's currently unclear whether he will be able to find fitness to make himself a stalwart in the Plymouth squad.

To further deepen the conundrum, star midfielder Bradley Ibrahim is expected to be out for 'months' having suffered an ankle injury, which leaves just Ralls and Law McCabe as the box-to-box options in the midfield unit.

This is where Argyle need to add someone with plenty of experience, who is ready to hop in straight away and have an instant impact, and that man should be Welsh international and Bolton Wanderers star Josh Sheehan.

Sheehan has been a key man for Wanderers in recent years, but has found starts harder to come by at the Toughsheet Community Stadium this season, which could tempt him for a new chapter elsewhere if the right offer came in.

The 30-year-old brings an excellent level of experience, and would certainly help with controlling the tempo in the midfield, alongside a more defensive-minded midfielder in Malachi Boateng or Brendan Wiredu.

Sheehan has been well known for his ability to play a killer pass and link the defence to the attack, which is something Cleverley's side have really lacked in their recent run of form, so adding a player of his calibre would be a real statement of intent.