Football League World
·21 July 2024
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·21 July 2024
This trio have all benefited from the Greens' business during the off-season
Plymouth Argyle have acted to address their troubles in front of goal from the previous campaign in the summer transfer window, with attacking reinforcements the order of the day at Home Park.
Front-man Muhamed Tijani has joined on a season-long loan deal from Czech side Slavia Prague, while wide man Ibrahim Cissoko has also been borrowed for the season from Toulouse.
Darko Gyabi also gets another chance to prove himself in Devon after his previous loan spell was cut short through injury, as Wayne Rooney continues to build a new-look squad ahead of the impending Championship season.
Here we take a look at who the real winners are from the transfer business that Argyle may, or may not have done, so far, and how the players involved can capitalise on their opportunities.
Although Cissoko has been brought in from France to play in a similar role, the lack of any other wide speedsters joining the squad as yet will give Freddie Issaka plenty of encouragement ahead of the 12 months to come.
Argyle’s youngest ever player will turn 18 at the end of the month, and will finally be looking to stake a claim for a regular first-team berth for the Pilgrims with his pace and trickery down the sidelines.
The teenager has done his chances the world of good with a goal in the Greens’ first pre-season match of the summer against Orlando Pirates recently, as well as winning a second-half penalty as the South African side’s defence found him too hot to handle.
If things stay as they are, the Welsh youth international will be buoyed by the fact that the Argyle hierarchy are starting to put their faith in him to do a job when push comes to shove later in the year, and there is no doubt he will thrive if given the opportunity.
Tyreik Wright and Plymouth Argyle were never a match made in heaven, with the former Aston Villa man starting just six games in the 18 months he was associated with the club.
The Republic of Ireland youth international often looked devoid of confidence when he was utilised over the past two seasons, so it was no surprise to see him move on at the earliest opportunity.
The winger has gone back to Bradford City, the club he has had two successful loan spells with in the past, and upon his arrival you can tell he is mightily pleased with getting away from Devon this summer.
He told the club website: “I am absolutely buzzing. I came back on a second loan last season and felt at home again straight away. It was a no-brainer for me to come back here permanently this time.
"I had a great conversation with the gaffer - and other staff members - towards the end of the season, who said he would love to have me back, and I said I wanted to be here on a permanent basis. I am delighted to be back.
"I feel at home here with the lads and the staff, and I have always loved the fans here. I want to feel comfortable in the environment, and there is no better place for me than here.
"The gaffer has told me where he sees me playing, and I just want to play. I enjoyed playing at wing-back last season and I am ready to go."
Having featured last season at times as a wing-back under Graham Alexander, Wright may now have a new permanent position on a football pitch, and perhaps he will be able to thrive back in West Yorkshire.
Having joined a club that was in the midst of a downward spiral last season, Darko Gyabi struggled to play his best football in a side lacking in ideas in the final third under Ian Foster.
They started the 2023-24 season with such a refreshing, swashbuckling mindset going forward, but Argyle lost that impetus around the turn of the year, and as a result neither club nor player saw the best of the other.
Therefore, a return to Home Park for Gyabi makes complete sense for the season ahead, as the Leeds United loanee gets the chance to show the Green Army what he can really do when given the opportunity, as he makes up for lost time.
A groin injury cut the midfielder’s loan short during the previous campaign, so the chance to spend the full season in Devon and get a run of games in the team under his belt will only serve him well for the future.