It should have been expected that relegation from the Championship would lead to key departures at Plymouth Argyle and the manager has confirmed that another star is set to follow Mustapha Bundu, Ryan Hardie and Adam Randell out of Home Park.
Tom Cleverley is a promising manager but faces a significant overhaul of the playing squad after Argyle were relegated on the final day of the Championship campaign due to a late 2-1 defeat to Leeds United.
Exodus Ongoing at Home Park
The aforementioned Bundu and Hardie combined to contribute just under 57% of all goals for Plymouth Argyle in the second tier last season. Their exits appear to be part of a refresh of the forward line that is supported by the arrival of 22-year-old strikers Aribim Pepple from Luton Town and Owen Oseni from St. Mirren.
Xavier Amaechi is an interesting addition as the 24-year-old winger impressed in the German second tier. However, he has big shoes to fill after Bundu’s contributions last season.
Randell will be a major loss, having arguably been the most consistent performer for the team, and his displays have ensured he will stay in the Championship after he signed for Bristol City.
Nikola Katic has left following his temporary move after impressing in his 15-game spell, and it has now been confirmed that a major winter signing will be following the defender out of the club this summer.
Plymouth Argyle Manager Confirms Defender Set For Departure
According to the Plymouth Herald, Cleverley spoke in detail on the future of Maksym Taloverov, the 25-year-old Ukrainian international, who arrived for a reported sum of £1.7 million in January. The defender missed six of the final eight matches of the Championship campaign due to injury, but was a key performer in his 11 league appearances.
Taloverov appeared from the bench in Ukraine’s recent win over New Zealand, and with a World Cup scheduled for next summer, Cleverley confirmed the player has been ‘respectful’ about a summer move and that a deal is ’99 per cent done’. The reports states:
“We expect Maxi to complete his move away from the club. I think that’s 99 per cent done. I will be as honest as I can be on that one, and we don’t expect to have Maxi back in the building.
“He’s a player who you can see his quality. He plays for Ukraine and he’s trying to get to a World Cup. He has been very respectful with myself, he has been very respectful with his team-mates and if you are unfortunately going to lose a player like Maxi he has certainly done it in a very respectful way and he has gone to the level above, which is the nature of being relegated at times.
“You can either focus on the players you are losing at this stage or we can be excited by the players we have brought in. From two weeks on the training field I’m very excited by those players, as well as creating a culture of a squad who really is together and wants to be here.
“That’s where my focus is going at the minute but what I would say is I didn’t see Maxi on the training pitch but we have had some really respectful conversations and I also wish him all the best.”