Exclusive: Sky pundit issues Plymouth Argyle "problem" claim involving QPR and Rumarn Burrell | OneFootball

Rumarn Burrell was a long-standing transfer target for the Pilgrims before his Loftus Road move

Sky Sports pundit and EFL expert Lee Hendrie believes Plymouth Argyle may be left to feel a major sense of transfer regret as summer target, Rumarn Barrell, has made a strong start to life at Queens Park Rangers instead.

The Devon side set about the task of mounting an immediate promotion bid in League One following their relegation from the Championship last season, with Tom Cleverley overseeing a major squad overhaul in his first pre-season and transfer window at Home Park after he replaced now FC Schalke 04 boss, Miron Muslic, in the hotseat.

After losing the likes of Ryan Hardie, Mustapha Bundu, Makysm Tavolierov, Rami Al Hajj and Adam Randell among others, the newly-appointed head coach looked to fill such strong voids with the adequate quality required to consistently perform at the top end of the third-tier alongside big spenders and high-profile clubs such as Cardiff City, Luton Town, Huddersfield Town and Bolton Wanderers.

Argyle were extremely active right up to the 7PM transfer deadline on September 1st, with as many as 16 new faces moving to the South West despite a frustratingly slow start to the campaign for the club who won the division just three seasons ago.

Since then, form has picked up for Cleverley and the early pressure has somewhat dissipated, but he and supporters will undoubtedly be frustrated that a player who could have taken an already obscene number of incomings up even higher, has made a significant impression for Queens Park Rangers in the Championship.

Lee Hendrie highlights Plymouth Argyle "problem" as Rumarn Barrell makes early Championship impression at QPR

Such feelings are in reference to Rumarn Burrell's developments under new Hoops boss Julien Stephan at Loftus Road, as the Birmingham-born forward was previously the subject of intense transfer interest from the Home Park side after starring in League One last season with Burton Albion.

The 24-year-old scored 11 times and posted two assists last term, backing up his 21-goal haul for Scottish League One outfit Cove Rangers the previous season, and was targeted as a figure that could have filled the void left by Hardie's high-profile departure to newly-promoted Wrexham.

After Football League World exclusively revealed Argyle's interest in the Jamaican international, it was reported that the club were weighing up a bid worth approximately £1m for his services, before Burrell moved to West London in a deal worth reportedly just over the seven-figure mark.

The forward has since adapted to second-tier life rather well, leaving Hendrie to exclusively tell FLW that Argyle may be left to rue the passing up of such a transfer coup.

"For sure, I think since Rumarn Burrell has gone to QPR, he has looked really good," the pundit claimed.

"I think this is the thing with football clubs taking a bit of a gamble. A club that fits and suits certain players, I think QPR definitely suits him and that's why he's hit the ground running.

"If you're looking at it from the outside-in, I think Plymouth would be thinking 'why didn't we pursue it?', 'why didn't we continue to try and get him?', and that's the problem these days," Hendrie stated.

"If you're not sharp enough, you certainly don't get the goods and that's what QPR have done.

"They've looked and they've realised that there's potential there. And, yes, I do think Plymouth will be gutted about that," he added.

Plymouth somewhat rectified Rumarn Burrell transfer miss with Port Vale transfer coup

Whilst Burrell has already made a significant impression on supporters and Stephan in W12 alongside former Wycombe Wanderers hotshot, Richard Kone, Argyle were able to remedy such a significant blow by landing the services of Lorent Tolaj from Port Vale after triggering a £1.2m release clause.

The Swiss frontman was among the best players in League Two last term and has already made an impact at Home Park in the early stages of his spell, with Argyle doing to Vale what they had fallen victim to at the hands of the aforementioned Rangers, by realising Tolaj has the current ability to aid their short-term goals as well as the chance of flourishing further up the pyramid.