Plymouth Argyle have made a commendable start to their first season back in the Championship since 2010. Their terrible away record (w0, d4, l7 gf7 ga19) is offset by an almost playoff level home record (w6, d1,l3 gf24, ga14) leaving Plymouth 18th in the league, three points ahead of the dropzone.
Last season in League One, Argyle finsihed above heavyweights Ipswich and Sheffield Wednesday as they earned promotion to England's second tier with a staggering 101 points, the joint second highest ever League One points haul. In the summer they approached the Championship season with proative transfer activity. They paid large transfer fees to bring last season loanees Bali Mumba and Morgan Whittaker back to the club, they future proofed the goalkeeping department by signing Conor Hazard to back up their most valuable asset Michael Cooper, Lewis Gibson came in at centre-back and has had a stunning season to date. Four loans came in, Finn Azaz for a second Home Park season as well as Kaine Kesler-Hayden, Luke Cundle and Lewis Warrington. Plymouth also looked to continental Europe to bolster their squad, free transfers Julio Pleguezuelo and Mustapha Bundu joined from Twente and Anderlecht respectively.
Plymouth Argyle, in my opinion, done a good job of bolstering their squad but for one position. The striking department. Last season Argyle operated with a trio of Ryan Hardie, Niall Ennis, Sam Cosgrove sharing minutes and Ben Waine backing them up on the odd occassion when needed. Ennis left the club for Blackburn, Cosgrove returned to parent club Birmingham at the end of his loan and is now back in League One with Barnsley. Plymouth went into the Championship season with Ryan Hardie, Mustapha Bundu and Ben Waine as forward options after a chase for Middlesbrough's Josh Coburn never led to a move.
The drop off from Hardie to Bundu is vast, in my view, as is the drop off from Bundu to Waine. Injuries to both Hardie and Bundu at points of the season have meant all three have been deployed as starters throughout the season to date and Argyle have become increasingly thankful for goal contributions from Azaz and Whittaker.
If Argyle make one signing in January, for me, it needs to be another forward option. It's the one area of the squad that looks weaker this season to last despite the promotion. Not only in terms of goals output but Ryan Hardie is outstanding at running the channels, offering his team an outball to relieve pressure. Bundu isn't bad at the same but doesn't convince as a goalscorer. Waine the opposite, good in the penalty box but doesn't offer enough in build up play and isn't much of a presence.
Plymouth looking abroad to sign Pleguezuelo and Bundu interests me and I wonder, should they not find a suitable Premier League or Champiosnhip loanee, is this a market that they go into for January forward reinforcement? Or will they look to domestic League's One & Two for a striker with the potential to move up in grade? Will they be in a position to spend the cash required? It could be the difference between survival or not.
So, I'm searching for a forward in the mould of Ryan Hardie. A steady goal threat who shows up well in the data with metrics such as touches in box per 90 and xg per 90 combined with video that shows he's a high energy work horse, prepared to run channels and keep defenders busy and occupied, offering his team an outlet when under pressure.
Here's three names for the shortlist as the January window gets nearer
Joakim Persson, 21 (Sirius)
Sambou Soumano, 22 (Quevilly Rouen - on loan from Lorient)
Nikolas Agrafiotis, 23 (Excelsior)
Not only do all three options fit the desired criteria, a couple of them have interesting contractual situations. Could a deal be there to be done?
Joakim Persson has recently made his Swedish under21 debut. The forward came through at Sirius and after lower Swedish league loans at IFK Lulea and Brage he has established himself in the Sirius first team. The Swedish season has finished, Persson ended with ten goals in twenty-six matches this season helped his team to a mid-table 8th place Allsvenskan finish. Persson's ten goals came from an xG of 10.99. Persson is approximately 6ft2 and right footed. He starts centrally but happily drifts into both flanks. Persson's tall frame makes him a powerful, long striding runner with good dribbling and close ball control. He has good vision and carries a goal threat. His transfermarkt value is E1,200,000 and his contract expires on 31/12/2026.
Sambou Soumano, in my opinion should be high on many teams wishlist. His transfermarkt value is also E1,200,000. The striker is currently on loan at Quevilly Rouen from Lorient where his contract expires at the end of the season. Could Plymouth, or indeed other teams negotiate a way out of his current loan and get the Senegal born forward on a pre-contract agreement? For me, Soumano is one of the best forwards in Ligue 2. He has eight goals in seventeen matches whilst his club struggles at the bottom of the division. A willing runner and capable in build-up play, Soumano becomes alive in the penalty area.
Nikolas Agrafiotis's contract with Excelsior expires at the end of the season, meaning he can sign a pre-contract agreement in January and also affecting his market value, currently on transfermarkt at £850,000. The forward is having a 'under the radar' great Eredivisie season in Rotterdam. The tall, right footed forward plays on the shoulder of the last man and loves to spin behind. He has five goals in fourteen matches this season, but only 713 minutes as he shares gametime with Troy Parrott who is on loan at Excelsior.
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