League One duo Wigan Athletic and Plymouth Argyle have registered their interest in Swansea City midfielder Ollie Cooper.
The 25-year-old is targeting a loan move away from South Wales, and according to Darren Witcoop, is considering his options ahead of the transfer deadline.
Cooper is yet to feature in the Championship this season for his boyhood club. Seemingly surplus to requirements currently under Alan Sheehan, the Welshman will benefit hugely from a prolonged spell in League One.
Plymouth Argyle Still Active Late In The Window
The Pilgrims thought they had turned a corner when they beat Blackpool at Home Park recently. But those remain their only points from their opening six matches in the third-tier.
Their heavy 4-0 defeat away to Cardiff City was a stark reminder of the tough job at hand for Tom Cleverley. After an encouraging performance in defeat at Swansea in the EFL Cup, their trip to the Welsh capital represented a huge backward step.
Their games are coming thick and fast, and the Green Army recognises the need for further reinforcements.
They desperately lacked a calming presence in the centre of the park at Cardiff, and paid a heavy price as the Bluebirds ran riot.
The considerable experience of Ollie Cooper has the potential to solve some of Tom Cleverley’s problems. As he assesses his options, Cooper could be swayed by the prospect of linking up with former teammates Jamie Paterson and Matty Sorinola in Devon.
He has made over 100 football league appearances for the Swans and could be the combative figure needed to revitalise the ailing Pilgrims.
Wigan To Rival Their League One Counterparts
The Latics are enjoying a rather more consistent start to the campaign, but aren’t ruling out further strengthening on deadline day.
Ryan Lowe’s side have won, drawn, and lost twice in their opening six games. However, in a season shaping up to be one of the closest fought League One campaigns in years, small margins could prove decisive.
It’s little wonder that Wigan have prioritised the midfield area, having let John Mellish and Ronan Darcy leave on loan in recent days.
In an attempt to climb the table, Ryan Lowe is keen to complete an ambitious loan signing of his own. Brentford loanee Ryan Trevitt made a noticeable difference on his debut, and now they are keen to maximise the final possible day of transfer business.
Ollie Cooper Set For Beneficial Loan Move
A deadline day move looks inevitable for Cooper, and whichever destination he chooses represents a fresh opportunity to impress.
Called five times by the Wales senior national team, Cooper boasts a proven big-game pedigree. However, he hasn’t been named in Craig Bellamy’s squad to face Kazakhstan and Canada in the upcoming international break.
If he produces a strong impact in League One this season, he could force himself back into the international reckoning.
It’s fair to predict that he will be a regular starter and key figure for either Wigan or Plymouth.
The League One loan move provides him with the opportunity to rediscover his best form and remind his club and national coaches of his capabilities in midfield.