Plymouth Argyle should sign Omari Forson and then follow it up with these 2 deals, here's why | OneFootball

Plymouth Argyle will be looking to add that extra bit of quality to their squad this summer, in the hope of improving on their Championship performance last season.

The Greens needed a win on the final day to preserve their second tier status in May, and with the arrival of Wayne Rooney as boss, they will be looking to bolster their ranks during the off-season.

Keeping hold of key players like Mike Cooper and Morgan Whittaker will be key pieces of business for the Pilgrims over the summer, while plugging the holes that emerged in the second half of the season will be a priority.

Here we take a look at three key signings the Devon side should be looking to make before the season gets underway in August, having already added Nathanael Ogbeta to their ranks last month.

Marc Leonard

It seems like half of the Championship are chasing the signature of Leonard at the moment, with a whole host of sides looking to make the Brighton and Hove Albion man theirs this summer.

The midfielder has impressed with back-to-back seasons on loan at Northampton Town, as he helped the Cobblers to League Two promotion before solidifying their position in the third tier.

The Seagulls are said to want just £300,000 for the 22-year-old, who has caught the eye with his range of passing from the centre of the park, and ability to keep possession ticking over for his side.

Leonard has also been a menace in the opposition’s penalty area during his time in the EFL to date, with eleven goal contributions for Jon Brady’s side last season, as he played every game for Town in their League One campaign.

The added impetus of Leonard could really help Argyle take control of games in the middle of the park next season, while his eye for goal and ability to pick a pass could help to reinvigorate an attacking line that began to falter as the season progressed.

The Scotland under-21 international is said to have the likes of Wrexham, Oxford United, and Cardiff City after him this summer, while Birmingham City are also said to be after him to help their revival bid in League One next season.

Whoever makes him theirs is going to have a top level player on their hands, and if Argyle can see off the competition it would show they really mean business in the transfer window.

Ashley Phillips

Ashley Phillips has already proven what he can do in a green shirt, having spent the second-half of last season on loan at Home Park from Tottenham Hotspur.

The centre back helped to sure up the backline after his arrival, with his ability to read the game and aerial ability helping to thwart many a Championship forward during his time in Devon.

Director of football Neil Dewsnip has already made his intentions clear on attempting to resign at least of the loan players from last year, with his comments last month eluding to that fact.

He said: “The loan players will obviously go back (to the parent clubs) but we are already in discussions to see if we can maybe access one or two of those to stay again next year, but we are very early in the discussions."

To bring the teenage talent back to the club could add another layer of steel to the Argyle defensive unit next season, and with Phillips still progressing and developing, another season at Championship level could see him become a force to be reckoned with in the second tier.

With the news that Brendan Galloway signed a new two-year-deal with the club last month, the Greens have key central defenders on their books already, and Phillips would complete the set if he were to rejoin the club, and continue where he left off at Home Park.

Omari Forson

With the news that Omari Forson will be leaving Manchester United this summer after rejecting a new contract, Argyle should be doing whatever they can to make him theirs ahead of next season.

The 19-year-old made his full debut for the Red Devils back in February, and has regularly found the net for the development side during his time in the United academy.

A whole host of EFL clubs will be eying up the starlet during the off-season, but Argyle could have the ideal person to lure him to the club in the shape of new boss Rooney.

There is no better person to teach a young striker the tricks of the trade in the professional game, with Rooney’s record at both club and international level speaking for itself during his storied career.

If Forson were to join the club, he would add some much-needed extra firepower to the Argyle frontline, with the goals drying in the final few months of the season.

The Pilgrims failed to score more than once in any of their final 12 games of the most-recent Championship season; highlighting the reason they found themselves embroiled in a fight for survival heading into the final day.

Forson’s addition would change that in an instant, whether he was replacing Ryan Hardie to play through the middle, or offering an option on one of the flanks as Argyle pile forward.

His link-up play and ability to find the back of the net would be a welcome addition to the Devon side, and help them to rediscover their swashbuckling style of football that won them plenty of plaudits at the start of last season.