Tom Cleverley drops Lorent Tolaj replacement hint at Plymouth Argyle as fans eye Exeter star | OneFootball

The Argyle head coach revealed that conversations began months ago for the replacement of Lorent Tolaj this summer

The sale that Plymouth Argyle fans dreaded this summer was announced on Monday, as talisman Lorent Tolaj left the club to sign for Championship outfit Bristol City.

The 24-year-old's rapid ascent up the EFL has been one of the great footballing stories in recent years. Indeed, Tolaj has spent a year in the National League, League Two and now League One in consecutive seasons, and now will test himself at Championship level.

Almost all the good at Home Park last season revolved around the Swiss frontman. During their dire start to the campaign, it was his goals that stopped Tom Cleverley's side from being further adrift at the bottom of the third tier.

Then, during their rapid rise towards play-off contention, he formed a dangerous partnership with Bim Pepple when fit, and scored four and assisted four in the final six games to try and drag Argyle into the top-six.

Ultimately, when their race came up just short, a move to the second tier was inevitable, after ending the campaign with 18 goals and 8 assists in just 33 league outings, and they've made at least £4 million in the sale to Bristol City, with add-ons that could see the Pilgrims make even more.

Tom Cleverley issues early update on Lorent Tolaj replacement

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There are clearly big shoes to fill now that Tolaj has left Home Park.

Bim Pepple and Owen Oseni are currently the only recognised strikers at the club, and while Pepple has come off a brilliant campaign in his own right, and Oseni has potential to grow with more game time, Plymouth boss Tom Cleverley is still looking for a new frontman to replace the free-scoring Swissman.

Per Plymouth Live, Cleverley admitted that conversations surrounding a Tolaj replacement started to take place "months ago," with the expectation always being that the 24-year-old wasn't going to be sticking around for another year. Now, the wheels can be put in motion surrounding moving for that replacement.

"We have certainly contacted a club around a player we are interested in. The conversations are being had, but I wouldn't say anything is close yet," the head coach said, after a 1-0 win over Torquay United on Tuesday.

"I'm sorry I can't give much more than that at this point, but the conversations started months ago for the potential day that this happened [Tolaj leaving] because he's a good player. In my opinion, he's a Championship striker."

Cleverley found joy in playing a 4-4-2 system in the second half of last season, which coincided with their rise up the League One table.

Ideally, the 36-year-old would want a couple of strikers through the door this summer to add quality depth, but Argyle are instead going to opt for investing in one frontman with "real quality."

"I see Caleb Watts as a good option there [up front] as well," Cleverley added. "Listen, we are greedy as head coaches, I'd love two strikers, but I have got a budget to work towards and that would be me probably overspending that.

"So I think one striker, and we will be going for a real quality one."

Plymouth Argyle fans react to striker update — Tom Cleverley told who to go and get

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With Tom Cleverley not giving too much away surrounding who they are targeting to replace Tolaj this summer, Plymouth fans are speculating which striker could end up joining the Pilgrims.

The online response to the Plymouth Live article being shared on X is almost unanimous, however.

"Exeter Jayden," one fan wrote. "Bring Wareham," another added. "Bring me Wareham," commented a third.

For Plymouth fans, Jayden Wareham's current position as Exeter City's frontman isn't deterring them from wanting him to cross the Devon derby lines and play for their club next season.

The 23-year-old netted 22 times in all competitions in his debut season at St James Park, but couldn't stop the Grecians from falling into League Two, bringing an end to a four-year stay in the third tier.

It's very likely that Wareham won't be sticking around for a season in the fourth tier, given his clear quality, and with a spot opening at Plymouth, plus the fees to make it happen from the Tolaj sale, a switch wouldn't be out of the question.

Argyle supporters were happy to see Caleb Watts cross enemy lines to Home Park this time last summer, and another instance of an Exeter attacker making the switch to Plymouth would provide even more joy for Argyle fans.