‘Will be with us’: Clear Plymouth Argyle transfer stance amid Portsmouth, Rangers and Preston interest in wanted strikers
Plymouth Argyle striker Aribim Pepple is on Pompey’s transfer radar this summer as the Blues scour the market for a new centre forward.
Plymouth Argyle chief executive Paul Berne is adamant the Pilgrims’ key assets, including Pompey target Aribim Pepple, will still be at Home Park on the first day of next season.
And the CEO is confident his side can hold on to their in-demand players this summer as they compete for League One promotion.
The transfer window is underway and it’s anticipated to be busy on the south coast as John Mousinho assembles his Championship squad.
Demand is growing in the 23-year-old, who flourished in Devon last term, notching up 18 goals in 41 appearances in all competitions.
That included a brilliant end to the season, which saw him appear on the scoresheet 15 times since the turn of the year as Tom Cleverley’s troops went on a late play-off charge.
Although the Canada international is someone the football operations at Fratton are looking at, it is also understood strikers both home and abroad are also being weighed up.
The young talent’s value, though, is soaring with Pompey among a number of clubs interested along with the likes of Rangers, Watford and Norwich City.
Pepple, who made a £250,000 move from Luton Town last summer, is still under contract at Home Park until 2029, with a sizable fee expected to be needed to secure his services.
Plymouth Argyle stance amid summer interest in assets
Amid interest, however, Berne is adamant Plymouth’s wanted assets, including Pepple and Championship linked Lorent Tolaj, will still be in Devon on the first day of next season.
The Argyle CEO told Plymouth Live: ‘We have planned that all the players we have got will be with us on day one (of pre-season).
‘That's what we plan to do. The players come back to pre-season shortly and Tom (Cleverley) and the coaching staff will start on the prep on that basis.
‘It's important to say there is no planned sales. The players that we have currently got with us are planned to be with us on day one of pre-season.
‘We are in a much better place compared to last year when we had a lot of work to do (on the squad). We have got a lot of players who are in contract already into next year and these are players that we know can do great things in League One.
‘It has been great to bring Wes to the club permanently, it's great to see Alex Hartridge bringing good League One experience to us, and great to see the club captain (Joe Edwards) sign on for another year. Our plan is to be in a really great position as we go into the start of next season
‘After the way the last four or five months of the (2025/26) season was so great, and the majority of those players will be with us for the start of next season, we know we have got a squad that can really compete at this level.’
Pompey’s front line options
Pompey currently have three centre-forwards in their ranks, with competition for Colby Bishop expected to be added this summer.
Thomas Waddingham is also expected to remain on the south coast, with the Aussie highly-rated by Mousinho, despite his injury issues.
However, it is understood Makenzie Kirk will depart PO4 on a temporary basis this summer after struggling during his maiden campaign from Scottish Championship side St Johnstone.