Michal Helik features: 5 EFL stars who must be on Plymouth Argyle's transfer shortlist | OneFootball

These stars would be great additions to the Pilgrims this summer, as Wayne Rooney starts to build his squad at Home Park

Highlights

With July now upon us, plenty of contracts will have expired across the EFL, and the summer transfer window will start to get into full swing.

Plenty of movement is still to come across all Football League clubs over the next two months, and Plymouth Argyle will be aiming to bolster their squad ahead of another Championship campaign.

New Greens boss Wayne Rooney has returned from punditry duties at Euro 2024 ready to get to work with his new side, and give the green light for any potential transfer targets that are in the Pilgrims’ sights over the summer.

With plenty of incomings and outgoings expected, here we take a look at five Football League stars who should be on Argyle’s radar before the 24/25 campaign gets underway.

Lukas Jensen

Argyle were rocked last week by the news that academy graduate Michael Cooper has refused to commit his future to the club, with the Devon outfit likely to sell him this summer to get maximum profit for him.

The 24-year-old has been a major presence in a side that has clambered up the divisions in recent seasons, and his loss will leave a massive void that needs filling between the sticks for the upcoming campaign.

With that in mind, Argyle will need to delve into the transfer market this summer to find a new number one, or at least someone who can provide competition for Conor Hazard to be the main man with the gloves.

In terms of EFL talent that really stands out in that regard, Lincoln City’s Danish supremo Lukas Jensen could be an avenue worth exploring during the off-season, with the 25-year-old proving to be one of the finest shot-stoppers in League One last season.

The former Burnley man had the highest save percentage of any regular first-team keeper in the 23/24 campaign, with 78.0% of attempts coming his way being repelled, as he only conceded 39 goals in his 45 league matches.

A joint-high 19 third tier clean sheets only goes to prove how well he performed for the Imps, as they went so close in their second-half of the season's run towards the play-offs.

With a contract that expires next summer, Argyle could make an astute summer signing in bringing Jensen to the club, with the Dane seemingly having a bright future ahead of him.

Davis Keillor-Dunn

During the second-half of last season, Argyle’s Achilles heal was their inability to stick the ball in the back of the net, with each of their final 12 league games of the season seeing them fail to score more than one goal.

It was that bluntness in the final third that saw them dragged into a relegation battle at the bottom of the second tier, with only a final day victory over Hull City rescuing them from an immediate return to the third tier.

What the Greens were missing - especially as Morgan Whittaker’s form suffered a slump - was a man who could produce a little bit of magic out of nothing, and win games seemingly on his own with his ability.

That’s exactly what Davis Keillor-Dunn did time and time again for Mansfield Town in the previous campaign, as the former Oldham Athletic man netted 22 times for the Stags and set up eight more for his teammates on the way to League Two promotion.

The forward has a highlights reel that most players can only dream of, with his vast array of long-range stunners making him a player that managers crave; that magician who can pull magic out of the hat in the most crucial of moments.

If Whittaker does hang around at Home Park this summer, a player like Keillor-Dunn could prove to be the perfect foil in behind Ryan Hardie when the Pilgrims are going forward, although they’d have to force Town’s hand if they are going to get him out of Field Mill this summer.

Joe Taylor

Another player who could solve Argyle’s problems in the striking department is Luton Town’s Joe Taylor, with the frontman coming off the back of two successful EFL loans in the previous campaign.

After starting the season with 11 goals in 25 league games for Colchester United in League Two, the goal-poacher then spent the second-half of the season on loan at Sincil Bank, where he plundered 10 in 19 for Lincoln City.

His intelligence and pace saw him constantly being played in behind third tier defences and running through on goal for the Imps, and after taking a while to find his feet, he really took off and helped steer Michael Skubala’s side towards the top six in the division.

With Ryan Hardie’s form dropping off towards the end of last season, Argyle were crying out for another presence to lead the line, with Ben Waine failing to provide the sufficient back up needed when the times were tough, and Taylor could be the man to provide that spark next season.

Although relatively untested at the level, the frontman has plenty of natural talent to thrive if given the opportunity, and no better mentor to have than Rooney if he were to move to Home Park.

Michal Helik

Argyle could be on the hunt for another central defender this summer, with rumours of a move to Birmingham City for current centre back Dan Scarr.

The Midlands man has a year left on his contract at Home Park, and is said to be wanted by the Blues this summer, following their relegation to League One on the final day of the previous campaign.

With no news on any potential return of Ash Phillips on loan from Tottenham Hotspur yet, Argyle will need to add reinforcements to their defensive unit, and a man of Helik’s ability could be the perfect man to fit the bill.

The Polish international was top scorer for Huddersfield Town last season as the Terriers also suffered the drop alongside Birmingham, with his nine goals showing how much of a presence he is in the opposition penalty area.

Despite his side’s demise, the 28-year-old also had a strong season playing at the back himself, and could fit in alongside Lewis Gibson at the heart of the Pilgrims’ backline, with either Brendan Galloway or Julio Pleguezuelo featuring as a back three.

The defender moved on the last time he suffered relegation from the second tier with Barnsley, and with his strong reputation, it will be hard to see him remain at the John Smith’s Stadium until September this time around.

Sam Tickle

If Jensen is an unachievable transfer this summer, another goalkeeping target over the next two months could be Sam Tickle from Wigan Athletic, with the young stopper earning plenty of rave reviews in his brief career to date.

The 22-year-old was an ever-present for the Latics as they battle points-deductions to finish 12th in the third tier last season, with his 14 clean sheets contributing to a strong campaign for Shaun Maloney’s side.

Having already represented England at youth level, Tickle is gathering quite the reputation within the EFL and beyond, with Premier League side Everton said to be monitoring his progress, as well as Sunderland.

With the Athletic man committing his future to the club until 2028 in May, it could be a hard ask to prise the shot-stopper away from the DW Stadium this summer, but with the extra funds coming in for Cooper’s sale, moving for the glovesman could be a great reinvestment of those funds.