Norwich City, Portsmouth, Watford & Lincoln in Plymouth Argyle transfer tussle - it's not Lorent Tolaj | OneFootball

A host of outfits in the Championship and further afield are reportedly eyeing potential summer moves for in-demand Plymouth Argyle striker Bim Pepple

Plymouth Argyle's key decision-makers may find themselves sweating over the futures of certain leading performers at Home Park after the Pilgrims fell short in their pursuit of a top-six finish on the final day of the 2025/26 League One campaign.

A remarkable upturn in fortunes under Tom Cleverley throughout the second-half of the season saw Plymouth lose just two of their final 16 league matches and climb up the table into the mix for a play-off spot, though despite overturning a two-goal deficit to claim a 3-2 final-day victory at already-relegated Northampton Town with top-six contention on the line, the Green Army's efforts ultimately were not enough as Stevenage held firm to take the final place.

Argyle's fate was sealed when Boro defender Dan Sweeney scored the only goal of the game against Wigan Athletic deep into additional time to ensure a second successive season in English football's third-tier for Cleverley's side following relegation from the Championship last season.

A number of players have, however, caught the eye in recent months at Home Park, with speculation surrounding the future of star striker Lorent Tolaj only continuing to intensify amid the 24-year-old's stunning haul of 17 goals and eight assists from just 29 league appearances for the Pilgrims.

Tolaj, of course, has no shortage of admirers, but he's not the only Plymouth star to be attracting interest ahead of this summer's transfer window and another campaign in League One as a number of second-tier sides begin to circle.

Norwich City, Portsmouth, Watford and Lincoln City in transfer race for Plymouth Argyle's Bim Pepple

The player in question is, rather unsurprisingly, Tolaj's strike partner in Bim Pepple, who has enjoyed a similarly-impressive debut campaign in Devon after arriving from Luton Town in July of last year in a reported £250,000 deal - subject to rise to £600,000.

According to a recent report from the Daily Mail, the 23-year-old is being eyed up for a potential move away from the South West this coming summer by a Championship quartet alongside clubs across Europe and beyond.

The report has claimed that Norwich City, Portsmouth and Watford are all circling for the Canadian sought-after signature alongside 2025/26 League One champions Lincoln City.

Interest is not limited to the Championship, either, with the update also linking Pepple to a series of clubs in the MLS and mainland Europe alongside Scottish giants Rangers, who appear to have joined Old Firm rivals Celtic in the race for both the Canadian frontman and the aforementioned Tolaj.

It's said that some of the frontman's suitors are even intent on tripling his present salary with the League One side less than twelve months on from his arrival, which will naturally leave Plymouth fearful of his head being turned.

Cleverley has separately admitted that Pepple's contract contains a release clause, the value of which remains unclear, but it could well be activated by a number of sides in the coming weeks and months.

Pepple's future at Plymouth, then, looks increasingly uncertain after an eye-catching run of goalscoring form following the turn of the year, which has seen the powerful striker finish the season with 16 league goals and 18 from 41 appearances across all competitions.

Yet to be capped by the Canadian national side heading into this summer's co-hosted FIFA 2026 World Cup, Pepple received a first call-up from ex-Leeds United boss Jesse Marsch for the most recent break, although it has also been suggested that he may need to seek a move to a club at a higher level in order to further his international career.

Bim Pepple's Plymouth Argyle transfer exit may be inevitable

All things considered, it could become something of an inevitability that Pepple's immediate future lies away from Plymouth.

Cleverely now finds himself susceptible to losing both Pepple and Tolaj before the 2026/27 League One campaign commences, and while Plymouth have much to build from going into next season after finishing in eighth position and displaying promotion-level form throughout recent months, their third-tier status ultimately counts against them and could be capitalised on by a number of preying outfits in higher divisions.

It remains unclear exactly how Pepple feels about remaining with the Pilgrims this summer, although sealing a move elsewhere would come with clear financial and international incentives alongside the natural advantage of progressing upwards to a higher-level side.

The one thing that feels clear right now is that Plymouth are going to face a significant battle to retain Pepple's services, and it would be no great surprise to see even more Championship clubs electing to join the ever-intensifying race for the forward.