Plymouth Argyle can replace Lorent Tolaj with Ryan Hardie or Charlton Athletic striker | OneFootball

Plymouth Argyle should move for Ryan Hardie and Daniel Kanu as replacements for Lorent Tolaj

The day that Plymouth Argyle fans didn't want to come this summer is seemingly on the horizon, as Lorent Tolaj looks set to continue his rapid ascent up the EFL by signing for Bristol City.

Pete O'Rourke reported on Thursday that the Robins had agreed a deal for the Swiss frontman, who only just arrived at Home Park last summer from Port Vale.

The 24-year-old scored 18 times and assisted a further eight in just 31 third-tier starts last season. He was the only shining light during Plymouth's dire start to the campaign, and the Pilgrims' climb up towards play-off contention in 2026 could have been even quicker if not for a couple of injuries sidelining him.

With four goals and four assists in the final six games when he was back to full fitness, it was evident that, if Tom Cleverley's side fell short in their play-off chase, Tolaj would be a Championship player regardless in 2026/27.

That move looks set to be complete, with Plymouth earning in excess of £4 million for his services.

It'll be a sad day when he leaves, but Argyle will need to quickly move on and target someone who can lead the line alongside Bim Pepple with similar effect. Here are two strikers they could target.

Ryan Hardie

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It's safe to say that Ryan Hardie hasn't enjoyed life after leaving Plymouth a year ago upon their relegation to League One, becoming Wrexham's first arrival of last summer when they activated his £700,000 release clause.

The Scotsman left with the well-wishes of Argyle fans, as he'd proven during the two years in the second tier at Home Park that he deserved to continue his career in the Championship.

As the summer went on, though, the likes of Kieffer Moore and Josh Windass arrived, and all of a sudden, Hardie was struggling for minutes, and that lack of match sharpness ended up affecting his loan spell with Huddersfield Town in January.

The 29-year-old suffered a knee injury in mid-December after making just his sixth Championship appearance of the season, and at the Accu Stadium, he was unable to get up to speed, making just six League One appearances before going down again in late March.

Hardie will likely be expendable at Wrexham once again this summer, and he needs to make up for lost time.

A move back to Plymouth, where he spent five-and-a-half years before his switch to North Wales, could be the perfect reunion, allowing him to possibly secure a third Home Park promotion of his career.

Daniel Kanu

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This one would likely be more of a loan move, as Charlton Athletic's Daniel Kanu prepares for what could be a vital campaign in his development.

It's unclear whether the 21-year-old will return to the Valley to be part of Nathan Jones' plans next season. Last year, he spent the season at Walsall, where he scored 18 times in all competitions, but the jump from League Two to the Championship may still be a step too far.

If Charlton decide to loan Kanu back out again this summer, it will likely be to a club in League One, and Plymouth should definitely be keen to oversee his development for a year.

Kanu has 59 third appearances under his belt for the side he came through the academy at, so he knows the league. He scored seven times in those games, but the majority of those were as an inexperienced teenager from the bench.

At Home Park, he could continue to be a regular starter like he was at Walsall, allowing him to continue the momentum he has from that loan spell last season.

Tolaj was brought in as someone who performed well in the fourth tier the year before, and he turned out to be one of the best Plymouth signings in years. Kanu scored more than the Swiss frontman did in his sole year in League Two, so he could follow in his footsteps, and some.