Plymouth Argyle handed 'big boost' with £1.5m midfielder | OneFootball

FLW's Plymouth Argyle fan pundit is excited to see what Michael Baidoo can do in League One next season if he stays

Plymouth Argyle fans were rather surprised to see Michael Baidoo back at the club for pre-season, and even more so when they found out he may be sticking around for the foreseeable future.

The 27-year-old has had a truly torrid last 18 months after arriving at Home Park for a then-club record fee of £1.5 million.

He struggled to adapt to English football quickly at a club that was struggling at the bottom of the Championship, playing 11 times and contributing zero goals, and after suffering relegation, he didn't seem to be interested in playing in League One, one year after scoring goals in the Europa League for Elfsborg.

But, after an even worse 2025/26 campaign while playing for the basement club in the Qatari Stars League, Umm Salal, on loan, he's returned to Plymouth with an "appetite" to stay, which wasn't the case last year.

That's according to Argyle boss Tom Cleverley, who spoke of his disappointment that Baidoo couldn't make it to their pre-season training camp in Spain due to Visa issues. He's expected to play in a friendly against Plymouth Parkway while the rest of his teammates are abroad, and he'll link back up with them upon their return.

Plymouth Argyle fan pundit in full support of a Michael Baidoo return

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FLW's Plymouth fan pundit, Luke Hodge, acknowledges how difficult it was for Baidoo to hit the ground running when he first arrived in Devon in January 2025.

He had the pressure of being a record signing, had just come off the back of his domestic season in Sweden ending, so hadn't had an off-season and had to settle into a squad that was in turmoil. Indeed, Wayne Rooney, the man who brought him to the club, left just days before the 27-year-old's arrival.

Hodge feels that this summer is a clean slate for Baidoo, and if he can come into the new season with the right mindset, he could be a real asset for the Pilgrims this year.

"It's really encouraging to hear that Michael Baidoo is back training with the squad and that Tom Cleverley has spoken about his appetite to stay at Home Park and fight for his place," he said.

"In my opinion, if that hunger is truly there, then he has the potential to be a big boost for us in League One and play a major role in what we hope is a promotion-challenging season.

"His time here hasn't gone to plan thus far. When he first signed as a club-record fee, it was a rough introduction. He'd come off a long, intense season with Elfsborg, and you then throw in a move to a new country, adapting to English football and then playing for a manager who didn't even sign him, asking him to operate in positions that didn't help him.

"Last season didn't seem the best of spells either, but that's why I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt heading into the campaign. There should be a proper clean slate under Cleverley, and we should get behind him."

Just two years ago, Baidoo was scoring 10 times in 27 league appearances for Elfsborg and getting called up to the Ghanaian National Team. He easily has the potential to be one of the best in his position in League One, if he can rediscover that form.

Tom Cleverley will have a decision to make, with the 27-year-old arguably struggling to fit into the 4-4-2 system that worked well in the second half of last season, but the fan pundit believes that the head coach can work out a way to fit him in and bring out the best in him.

"His creativity, movement and ability to get in between the lines could make him a real handful for League One defenders," he continued. "He has the quality to create chances, score goals and make things happen.

"Cleverley's style of play could suit him well, even if there is a question mark over his position. Baidoo thrives with more freedom as a number 10, but he has mentioned using him off the left, so there are different ways to get the best out of him.

"At the end of the day, if he shows real passion and commitment to succeed at the club and prove himself, we could see the best of Baidoo. It has all the ingredients of a redemption arc, and I'm optimistic."

Michael Baidoo will have a lot to prove to Plymouth Argyle fans if he stays this season

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Granted, not a lot of people share Hodge's optimism, and would perhaps prefer a line being drawn under Baidoo's time at Home Park. He didn't live up to expectations, and then jumped ship after relegation, which can fracture a relationship between the player and the fans.

If he is brought back into the fold and given a chance under Cleverley, then he'll have a lot of doubters to prove wrong, not only in the crowd, but also those who are maybe doubting his ability to return to the levels he was at before his move to Plymouth.

There's no arguing that, if he can find that level, he'll be difficult to stop in the third tier, whether that's off the left or through the middle, and that would really help offset the worries of maintaining a strong frontline if Lorent Tolaj or Bim Pepple leave before the window shuts.

Time will tell whether the 27-year-old can live up to the £1.5 million that Argyle paid to bring him in. If he can contribute to a promotion, all will be forgiven.