Marcus Harness features: 3 perfect PL loan signings Plymouth Argyle should already be eyeing | OneFootball

Plymouth Argyle have utilised the loan market to its full potential in recent seasons, with the Pilgrims proficiency in recruiting top talents on temporary deals reaping rewards.

Whether it was the signings of Morgan Whittaker, Bali Mumba and Finn Azaz in the League One winning campaign, or the arrivals of Luke Cundle and Kaine Kesler-Hayden at the start of the most recent season, the Greens have added a sprinkle of quality with loan deals again and again.

The next campaign will be no different, with the Devon side scouring the top flight for hidden gems they can borrow to help their cause, as they aim for a higher finish in the division than their finish of 21st this time around.

With the scouting already well underway, we take a look at three stars Argyle should be looking to recruit ahead of the next campaign, with a familiar face among the trio.

1 Ashley Phillips

Ashley Phillips made the move to Home Park in January, as the young defender linked up with former England youth boss Ian Foster during his time in the dugout in Devon.

Although things didn’t go to plan for his manager, Phillips’ time in a green shirt saw him continue to mature into a promising defender for the future, with director of football Neil Dewsnip dropping a hint that a return could be on the cards over the summer.

He said earlier this month: "The loan players will obviously go back (to the parent clubs) but we are already in discussions to see if we can maybe access one or two of those to stay again next year, but we are very early in the discussions."

The decision to go back for Phillips would make sense for Argyle, with Brendan Galloway’s future at the club currently in doubt, with the Zimbabwe international yet to sign a new deal with the club.

The defender was offered a contract ahead of his elapsing this summer, but with the likes of Coventry City, Middlesbrough and Blackburn Rovers all said to be keen on bringing him in this summer, the 28-year-old could be on his way out of the club after three years a green.

That could pave the way for Phillips to resume in his role as part of a back three for Argyle, with Dewsnip reverting back to the formation that has served them so well in the past during his spell in charge of the side at the end of the season.

Standing alongside Lewis Gibson and Dan Scarr, Phillips grew into a top performer for the side once he had some confidence under his belt, and with another season at the level the 18-year-old could blossom into an outstanding performer in the next campaign.

2 Alex Matos

The 23/24 was a miserable one for Huddersfield Town as the Terriers dropped into League One for the first time in over a decade, but Alex Matos was a player who caught the eye despite the unrest at the John Smith’s Stadium.

The 19-year-old made the move to Yorkshire in the January transfer window from Chelsea, and immediately breathed some fresh life into his new side, with his battling displays in the centre of the park.

In terms of interceptions and tackles, no Town player registered higher than the teenager’s 4.93 per 90 as a combined metric; a figure that sees him in the same conversation as Coventry City’s highly touted Ben Sheaf (5.14) as a midfield enforcer.

For all their attacking verve and vigour over the past year, Argyle could be accused of lacking that general in the middle of the park who can dominate a game with and without the ball at times, and Matos fills that role perfectly.

While local lad Adam Randell has impressed in a similar role and veteran Adam Forshaw offers that assuredness on the ball when in possession, Matos’ talents could well be on upgrade on what they already have in their ranks.

With a contract at Stamford Bridge until the summer of 2026, the Blues are obviously big admirers of the young talent, and another EFL loan could be what he needs to continue to develop into a midfield powerhouse.

There would be no better place to learn the tricks of the trade than at Argyle, with his anchoring of the midfield giving the forward line licence to attack knowing any holes will be filled if the move falls down.

3 Marcus Harness

With Ipswich Town promoted to the Premier League this season, there will be a number of players who have helped the Tractor Boys in their remarkable resurgence that may be set to leave the club in the summer.

Marcus Harness could be one of those players, with the winger making just seven starts for the Suffolk side over the course of the campaign, with the majority of his performances coming from the bench.

With another year left on his contract in East Anglia, the easiest solution for all parties could be a loan move for the final 12 months of his time with the club, as opportunities at Premier League level will be at a premium.

That could play into Argyle’s hands ahead of the next campaign, with the wide man still a threat to defences when given the opportunity, and the Greens needing reinforcements in the attacking area of the pitch.

With Ryan Hardie and Morgan Whittaker struggling in front of goal in the final months of the campaign, the Devon side will need to add extra firepower to the squad over the summer, as well as prominent players in wide attacking areas, and it is the latter where Harness could play a part.

Mustapha Bundu and Alfie Devine were forced to play in wider areas in the run-in, emphasising a lack of depth on the flanks, with both preferring a more central role to influence matters.

Harness is a player that thrives off of having the whites of the sideline tickling his boots, and that ability to stretch a game would play into the Pilgrims’ hands with his knack for beating a man and picking the right pass at the right time.

Although his age doesn’t exactly fit with the Argyle model of aiming for youthful talents, to be able to have a consistent performer join the club for the year and add to the attacking ranks could be an alternative option ahead of the next campaign.