Tom Cleverley drops new Plymouth Argyle transfer hint as club eye Tolaj replacement | OneFootball

Tom Cleverley has dropped a hint on Plymouth Argyle's pursuit of another centre-forward following Lorent Tolaj's sale

Plymouth Argyle will be targeting a place in the League One top six next season, having narrowly missed out last time around, as head coach Tom Cleverley eyes up potential reinforcements in the final third.

It's already been a busy transfer window in Devon, as Plymouth prepare for another year in the third tier.

The Pilgrims, despite their upturn in form during the second half of last campaign, just missed out on a place in the top six, as Cleverley, by all accounts, will be hoping to right those wrongs next time around.

The additions of Alex Mitchell, Harvey White, and Murphy Cooper, in particular, will give them a huge boost. However, the £4 million departure of Lorent Tolaj may prove to be a challenge Plymouth may struggle to overcome, as Cleverley has recently dropped an update in their pursuit of a replacement.

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Tolaj's exit to Bristol City will come as a huge blow for the Pilgrims, though it's not necessarily a shock.

Having only joined from Port Vale last summer for around £1.2 million after his release clause was triggered, the Swiss striker continued his upward trajectory through the English football pyramid and excelled in League One, scoring 17 and assisting eight in just 29 league games at Home Park.

Plymouth still have Aribim Pepple in their ranks, but numerous EFL clubs have stood up and taken notice of the Canadian forward after he finally managed to find his feet in the English game last season, with 16 goals and two assists in 35 League One appearances last year.

Now, Plymouth are on the hunt for another centre-forward, as Cleverley has now dropped an update on the club's pursuit of an alternative in the final third, saying: "Every day you get a day closer, clubs have a valuation for two months of a window, then a different valuation for the last two weeks."

Indeed, a striker or two will almost certainly be heading to Home Park this summer following the departure of Tolaj, but no concrete links have yet emerged with whom those potential targets may be.

Cleverley has also previously stated his intention to reinvest the fee they received for Tolaj back into the squad, as a permanent arrival could be on the cards over a loan.

Who could Plymouth Argyle target to replace Lorent Tolaj?

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No rumours have yet emerged about who Plymouth could be looking at to fill the void left behind by Tolaj at Home Park, but there is room for speculation.

Portsmouth forward Colby Bishop appears to be edging closer to the exit door, and with an exceptional record at League One level, would be an excellent replacement for Tolaj.

Leyton Orient's Dom Ballard has been the subject of heavy interest from Bristol City, too, and whilst he may be out of their perceived price range, the former Southampton forward would be an incredible option up top.

Exeter City's Jayden Wareham has also caught the attention of the Robins, and though Plymouth's rivalry with the Grecians makes this move a tricky one, he would too be a wonderful replacement for Tolaj.

How have Plymouth Argyle supporters reacted to Lorent Tolaj's exit?

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With Tolaj officially having left the club after one year, Plymouth fans took to social media to react to the news of his departure.

Indeed, 25 direct goal contributions in just 29 league games, at any level, are incredible numbers, and having over tripled their profit on a player they signed just 12 months ago, he goes down as a superb signing and sale.

Should things not go to plan at Bristol City, for whatever reason, Plymouth fans have made it known that he always has a place to return to at Home Park.

An overwhelmingly positive group of messages for Tolaj following his departure, such as the impact he had on the club during his short stay in Devon.

Indeed, another option up top to complement Pepple must be sought, as the Pilgrims cannot afford to lose the Canadian too, as replacing both would be a hugely difficult task to overcome.