Plymouth Argyle appears to have won the race to sign Hertha Berlin’s Bradley Ibrahim. According to Pete O’Rourke, the Pilgrims will announce the 20-year-old on a permanent deal in the coming days.
Argyle have reportedly seen off a crop of their League One rivals to secure Ibrahim’s signature, including Charlton Athletic, Bolton Wanderers, and Peterborough United.
Plymouth Argyle Undeterred by Chaotic Week
After a busy start to the summer in the transfer market, Argyle’s best-laid plans were threatened by the sudden departure of Miron Muslić to Schalke 04. But it hasn’t derailed their pursuit of Ibrahim, even if they are now on the hunt for a new boss too.
The board at Home Park must have anticipated interest in Muslić, but the Austrian’s assurances offered a degree of comfort. But having hired his preferred backroom staff, and backed him early in the window, his haste to head to Gelsenkirchen must have been a kick in the teeth.
Muslić hasn’t been the only staff member to leave, with Chief Executive Officer David Ray following him out of Devon, to take up the same role at Bolton. However, despite the sudden exodus of none playing staff, the player incomings are continuing at a pace.
Plymouth Argyle Continues it’s Busy Start to the Summer
Argyle certainly hasn’t rested on their laurels since being relegated from the Championship. Despite the managerial change, the task of assembling a squad capable of an immediate return to the second tier is firmly underway.
One of the eye-catching EFL transfers in the early days of the summer window is that of Caleb Watts. Having declined an improved contract offer by Exeter City, he took the rarely made switch across the Devon divide signing for Plymouth.
Either side of the Watts announcement came the arrivals of striker Jamie Paterson and Scottish defender Jack MacKenzie. MacKenzie made the move South of the border just a week after lifting the Scottish Cup with Aberdeen.
With the season break just a few weeks old, Plymouth have already strengthened many key areas of their squad.
Swapping Bundesliga.2 for EFL League 1
After impressing during a loan spell at Crawley Town this season, the interest in Ibrahim was to be expected. He had a strong campaign in League One for the Red Devils, despite their untimely relegation.
The new head of football operations at Home Park, David Fox, is overseeing the transfer business whilst the search for a new head coach continues in the foreground. His latest negotiations look to have secured the services of Ibrahim, a young player capped twice at England under-18 level.
The holding-midfield player featured 38 times for Crawley last term, a regular name on the team sheet under Scott Lindsay, and previously Rob Elliot. His undoubted highlight in a Crawley shirt was his wonder strike against Wrexham, the League One goal of the month award winner for February.
His combative style, highlighted by the 15 yellow cards he received during his stint at the Broadfield Stadium, is likely to add essential firepower to the Pilgrims midfield.
A week can often feel like a lifetime in football, and for Argyle fans there rarely seems a dull moment. With Muslić leaving for the German second tier, now the Green army get to welcome a highly rated young player from the very same division.