Bim Pepple transfer situation is "highly likely" - Plymouth Argyle told to take action | OneFootball

FLW's Plymouth fan pundit has shared their thoughts of Aribim Pepple's current situation at the club

Plymouth Argyle's season ended in disappointment despite a strong finish by the Pilgrims, who are resigned to spend a second consecutive year in League One after missing out on the chance of promotion.

One defeat since March and a 3-2 away victory to Northampton Town on the final day was not enough to thrust Plymouth into the League One top six, with the club falling two points short of Stevenage at the end to finish eighth.

Few teams had experienced a better second half to the campaign than the Pilgrims, but Tom Cleverley's slow start to the year proved to be too costly, as they would fall just short.

With their third-tier status confirmed for next year, they now face the challenge of retaining some of their star assets, such as Lorent Tolaj, who has attracted interest from several clubs in the Championship.

The Swiss forward has performed exceptionally up top in his first year in Devon, but could be on the verge of an exit, with strike partner Aribim Pepple also the subject of hot interest from the second tier.

Plymouth face a battle to keep hold of Aribim Pepple

Canadian forward Pepple has excelled since his switch to Plymouth from Luton Town in the summer, hitting 16 goals and grabbing two assists in 35 games in what is his first year playing in the third tier.

The 23-year-old was signed for around £600k from the Hatters, and, unfortunately for Plymouth, his deal does contain a release clause, and with fresh reports that the likes of Norwich City, Watford, and Portsmouth are interested in the forward, the Devon-based outfit face a tough task of keeping him around beyond the summer.

Football League World's Plymouth fan pundit, Luke, has shared their thoughts on Pepple's current situation at the club, and whether the Pilgrims stand any chance of keeping him at Home Park beyond the summer.

Luke said: "I think it's highly likely that we lose Bim Pepple this year, and that's unless Argyle can sit him down and tell him how much we need him, and how we will be our number one striker next season, especially with Lorent Tolaj likely to leave the club.

"Now, Bim Pepple, he's had a hell of a good season. He's got better and better, and, you know, in October, we wouldn't think he would be in this position for so many clubs after him. His trajectory has gone through the roof, and no doubt there will be clubs triggering his release clause, which apparently is quite low, and doubling or trebling his wages, which, again, is probably relatively low wages because of the stature he was when he came to the club.

"You know, not many people knew about Bim Pepple, well, they do now. And I just hope that there's no two ways that he's happy at the club. I just hope that the club are able to renegotiate a new contract with him, you know, give him the wages that he deserves and either up the release clause or, even better, maybe take it out altogether. But I don't know if that will be able to happen.

"But I would definitely be, as Argyle will be sitting him down saying, 'Listen, what do you want?', and see if they can thrash out a deal and get them to renegotiate a new contract, for a couple or three years. That would be great. But failing that, then yeah, there will be several clubs in for him. They'll be triggering the release clause, and they'll be offering far more money than he's currently on.

"But one thing I will say is that my personal opinion is that he could do with another season in League One. I know he's been fantastic, but I'm not so sure the jump to the Championship will do him any favours. He hasn't played a hell of a lot of football over the last few years in terms of this standard and at this level, and I think another season in League One will do him the power of good.

"He's working on his game. He has still got attributes which he needs to improve, and I just think maybe going to a Championship club, it might be a step too far at this present time when they're a little bit more cutthroat, where if you don't hit the ground running, then you know, you'll find yourself completely out, a bit like Ryan Hardie at Wrexham, albeit Wrexham, are a different kind of kettle of fish with the money they've got and the instant success they require.

"But the Championship's a very hard league and many clubs are along the same lines. So Argyle, he'll be loved, he'll be our number one striker, if Lorent Tolaj leaves, he'll get maximum game time and hopefully continue his trajectory."

Tom Cleverley must prepare in the event of Aribim Pepple's departure at Plymouth

With Pepple's deal containing a release clause, Plymouth, at this stage, are effectively resigned to his departure, with another club almost certainly taking a gamble on the 23-year-old.

How much that clause is worth, at the moment, is unknown, but with it not likely to be significant, they must prepare for the possibility of losing him over the next few months.

Plymouth may well try and tie him down to a new deal, but in the instance that he rejects those terms, they must have a plan for that realistic scenario.

Replacing him won't be a simple task, but with time on their side, Cleverley must have a plan in preparation for this outcome.