Plymouth Argyle hit by fresh transfer concern - Championship and European clubs are circling | OneFootball

Plymouth striker Aribim Pepple has been the subject of interest from teams in the Championship and abroad

Having started the season in dismal fashion, things in Plymouth have seriously picked up in recent months, with the Pilgrims now well within the race for the top six after an impressive 5-2 home victory over League One leaders Cardiff City.

It would have been very easy for Plymouth owner Simon Hallett to bite the bullet and sack head coach Tom Cleverley from his post after a disappointing start to life at Home Park, but instead, he persevered.

Cleverley was brought in following his own dismissal from Championship side Watford, after former Bosnian boss Miron Muslic departed Devon during the summer unexpectedly for German side Schalke.

It was far from ideal for Plymouth, who were left scrambling for a replacement, when at which point, they landed on Cleverley, and though his start to life with the Pilgrims was difficult, to say the least, their upturn in form and performances deserves an enormous amount of credit for everyone involved.

One particular player has undergone a major transformation and surge in confidence in front of goal, leading to rumours of interest from teams in the division above and from abroad over a potential summer move.

Aribim Pepple credited with interest from teams in the Championship and Turkey

In a turn of events that almost no Plymouth fan would have believed had you told them this a couple of months ago, Canadian striker Aribim Pepple has been linked with a move to Turkish side Goztepe, as well as numerous other unnamed sides in the EFL Championship and across Europe.

Aside from the last month or so, Pepple has never been prolific throughout his career, with the 23-year-old first moving to England from his native Canada in the summer of 2022 and spending time out on loan with the likes of Grimsby Town, Bromley, Inverness, Southend United, and Chesterfield prior to his permanent move to Plymouth this summer.

Signed alongside Lorent Tolaj, Pepple had deputised for the Swiss forward for much of the campaign, when an injury to Tolaj meant an opportunity in the starting XI for the Canadian arose, which he took with both hands.

Pepple had eight goals and two assists in his last 12 league appearances, and recently started alongside Tolaj up front as Plymouth put five past Cardiff in their most recent outing, potentially the beginning of a memorable partnership at Home Park.

His form has seen links emerge to the likes of Goztepe, who have the same ownership as Championship side Southampton, something which even the most deluded of Plymouth’s fans couldn’t have predicted a couple of months ago.

Whilst the Pilgrims will not want to see Pepple leave, interest in him can only be a positive indicator, and something in which the club will hope the 23-year-old can use as motivation to prolong his form in front of goal.

With the Canadian having only just found his feet in the third tier, the jump to the Championship or the Turkish top flight may be too much too soon, though it is no doubt a good sign for both Pepple and Plymouth that his performances are gaining traction.

Tom Cleverley deserves an enormous amount of credit for Aribim Pepple’s surge in form

Few people, aside from Pepple himself, deserve more credit for the Canadian’s new lease of life than head coach Cleverley.

At one point, it looked almost certain that the former Manchester United and Everton midfielder would be dismissed from his role at the helm, with the decision to keep him on now paying dividends.

In their last three league games alone, Plymouth have scored 12 goals, with Pepple directly contributing to four of those, as Argyle have confidence coursing through their veins at the moment.

Cleverley will be loving life in Devon right now, and will no doubt have his eyes firmly set on a place in the top six. Should Pepple maintain his goalscoring touch, there is no reason as to why Plymouth cannot make the play-offs this campaign.