Plymouth Argyle set to hand lifeline to ex-Bristol City player as Tom Cleverley offers contract | OneFootball

Plymouth Argyle are keen to sign midfielder Ayman Benarous after his departure from Bristol City.

Plymouth Argyle head coach Tom Cleverley has revealed that the club have made a contract offer to former Bristol City midfielder Ayman Benarous after a successful trial period.

Benarous joined the Bristol City academy at the age of six, and after making his senior debut for the club in the 2021-22 season, he became regularly involved in the first-team squad under then-manager Nigel Pearson.

The 21-year-old's impressive early performances were enough to earn him a new contract at Ashton Gate, and he signed a three-year deal with the Robins in February 2022, but his development has stalled in recent years due to injuries.

In fact, Benarous' last competitive appearance came all the way back in April 2022, with a series of fitness problems, including two lengthy absences with serious ACL knee injuries, keeping him on the sidelines for much of the past three seasons, and he was released by City at the end of his contract this summer.

However, Benarous has now been handed a lifeline by Plymouth, and should he accept the club's contract offer, he will become their eighth signing of what has been an incredibly busy summer after the arrivals of Brendan Wiredu, Jack MacKenzie, Caleb Watts, Bradley Ibrahim, Xavier Amaechi, Jamie Paterson, Owen Oseni and Aribim Pepple.

Tom Cleverley confirms Plymouth Argyle's stance on ex-Bristol City midfielder Ayman Benarous

After his departure from Bristol City, Benarous linked up with Plymouth for pre-season training, and Cleverley has now confirmed that the club have made a contract offer to the midfielder.

"We have made an offer to him. If you want to know what kind of player I like, what style of player I like, then he falls into that mould absolutely," Cleverley told Plymouth Live.

"He has been very impressive in his trial period. He has had fitness issues in the past that he looks like he's over. In all the physical work we have done he has been really competitive and at the front of that.

"He's a player that for sure there is a little bit of risk attached with his injury history but the quality he has shown in the last week far outweighs that risk in my opinion. We will be delighted if we can come to a deal on that one.

"He's the perfect example of one of those versatile players. He came through at Bristol City as a left-footed right winger.

"He made his debut as a left wing-back, he's a player who has got a great football brain. Most of the time those players can fill in more than one or two positions. He gives us that versatility and quality for sure."

Cleverley revealed that the Pilgrims have also tabled a contract proposal to former Seattle Sounders, LAFC, Minnesota United and DC United goalkeeper Tyler Miller, who was recently released by League Two side Notts County at the end of his short-term contract at Meadow Lane.

Benarous has not made a single competitive appearance for over three years, so, as Cleverley himself admitted, Plymouth's decision to offer him a contract is something of a gamble, even if it is relatively low-risk given he would be signing on a free transfer.

However, Bristol City have produced plenty of exciting young talent over the years, and if Benarous can fulfil some of the potential he showed after breaking into the first-team at Ashton Gate, he could be a real asset for the Pilgrims in League One.

While they have lost key players such as Jordan Houghton, Mustapha Bundu and Ryan Hardie this summer, and Maxi Talovierov looks set to be the next to depart as he closes in on a move to Stoke City, Argyle are slowly building a squad that looks more than capable of competing for an immediate return to the Championship next season.