5 Plymouth Argyle transfer mistakes the club must try not repeat in January 2025 | OneFootball

The Greens need to avoid anything like this group when the mid-season transfer window opens up

The January transfer window is slowly emerging on the horizon, with Plymouth Argyle likely to be adding to their squad for the second-half of the campaign.

Wayne Rooney’s side have picked up after a slow start to the season, and find themselves in a cluster of sides battling in the bottom-half, with the quality of the division as equal as it has ever been.

Finding hidden gems in the market can make all the difference during the mid-season buying and selling period, with clubs putting a premium on their players in the hope of keeping them for the rest of the campaign.

The Greens will want to be wary of their business though, and avoid getting stung like they have done in the past when it comes to transfer deals, with these five among the worst in recent times.

Taribo West

The thought of Taribo West playing at Brighton and Hove Albion’s Withdean Stadium is still one that takes the brain some getting used to, with the Nigerian international coming to Devon for one final payday in the summer of 2005.

Having graced the San Siro for both Milan sides, played for Derby County in the Premier League, and sauntered across the world in the latter stages of his career, few would have thought Home Park would be the outpost he would emerge at later in his career.

With his legs as rickety as a Lego tower, the ancient defender ached his way through five games in green, with just one of those appearances ending in a victory.

A final outing at Barnet’s Underhill Stadium proved to be a step too far for the defender, and he was heading back up Outland Road on his mobility scooter by October, never to be seen again.

Nathanael Ogbeta

This one may have only happened a few months ago, but Nathanael Ogbeta can immediately be put in the pile of transfer mishaps at Home Park.

Having started the 4-0 defeat to Sheffield Wednesday in the first match of the season, the 23-year-old has largely been used when Rooney has rotated his squad to give others a rest, namely in trips to Burnley and Leeds United.

The defender's future as an Argyle player must already be in doubt after his July move, with his lack of defensive positioning and inability to pick out a teammate with the ball at his feet seeing him already being considered deadwood at the club.

Lewis Warrington

It was evident from the start that Lewis Warrington wasn’t fit to cut it at Championship level, with the Everton loanee mustering just 56 minutes of league action in the previous campaign after joining in the summer.

A poor showing in a much-rotated side saw him hooked at half-time in a 4-1 defeat to Bristol City in September 2023, which proved to be his final outing in a green shirt, as he was recalled by the Premier League outfit in January, following an ankle injury.

With loan spots at a premium, Argyle can ill-afford passengers for the remainder of the season, and if anyone is brought in, they need to be of sufficient quality that they will be challenging for minutes right from the off at the start of the year.

Tyreik Wright

Much was expected of Tyreik Wright when he joined the club from Aston Villa in January 2023, with the wide man impressing during a loan spell with Bradford City at the start of the campaign.

For one reason or another, the winger couldn’t find his feet at Home Park, and looked like a player devoid of confidence whenever he took to the field, although those outings were few and far between.

The Republic of Ireland youth international eventually returned to Valley Parade on a permanent deal this summer, having played just 503 league minutes during his 18 months as an Argyle player.

Alfie Lewis

Were you there when Alfie Lewis played?

That says all you know about the midfielder’s time at the club, with just eight minutes of action under his belt during his association with Argyle.

Late substitute appearances against Birmingham City and Fleetwood Town are all the former West Ham United man had to show for his efforts in green, with both coming away from home.

The midfielder’s six-month association with the club was largely forgettable by all involved, even he probably struggles to remember throwing away a two-goal lead to the Cod Army during his one and only league appearance.