‘You are still here?’: Plymouth Argyle striker addresses summer transfer talk after Portsmouth, Wrexham and Rangers links
Pompey had an interest in Plymouth Argyle striker Aribim Pepple during the summer transfer window.
Plymouth Argyle striker Aribim Pepple has addressed the transfer speculation surrounding him during the summer window.
And the one-time Pompey target has explained his ‘surprise’ at being touted with a switch to the Championship despite his impressive campaign at Home Park.
The 23-year-old was heavily tipped with an exit from Argyle in the summer after an outstanding maiden season in Devon, which saw him scored 18 times in 41 appearances.
His standout form alerted a number of clubs in England and abroad ahead of the window’s opening, with The News understanding John Mousinho’s side had Pepple on their radar, having previously done their homework on what a potential move would look like.
But a sizeable fee would’ve been required to prise him away from Plymouth, with Tom Cleverley’s implementing a seven-figure release clause in his deal following his £250,000 arrival from Luton Town in July 2025.
While a switch to Fratton Park never materialised, the Canadian was strongly linked with the likes of Wrexham, Preston, Bolton Wanderers and Rangers as well as clubs in Europe and in the MLS.
Aribim Pepple address summer transfer speculation amid Pompey links
But addressing his future for the first time since the summer, the striker has admitted he paid no attention to the transfer talk during the window.
Speaking to Plymouth Live, he said: ‘I kind of just took it like a compliment. It just means I was doing something well. If you had told me when I signed last year I would be linked to Championship teams or whatever, I would have been very surprised and maybe not even believed you.
‘There is always going to interest if you are scoring goals but just focused on giving my 100 per cent to this club.
‘I'm not actually on Twitter or anything so a lot of it I don't hear. Obviously, my agent might say there is bits and pieces but a lot of it I had no clue.
‘I would just come in to training and people were like 'Oh, you are still here'. For me, it wasn't really affecting me too much because I just focused on myself. I'm enjoying my football.
‘When the (transfer) window shuts it probably makes it easier for people around me, I guess, but for me it was just still the same old trying to get three points on the weekend and trying to score goals, so it wasn't actually too difficult to deal with.’
One-time Pompey target wants to play at highest level
Although Pepple was tipped with an Home Park exit in the summer, he remained in the West County, where he’s since netted three goals in eight appearances for Argyle, who sit third in League One.
And the striker is looking to continue his impressive goalscoring form to be able to play at the highest level possible.
‘I just want to play as high as possible and obviously for me the national team (Canada) is a big one.
‘I have got a taste of it, I want to get back there, and not just get called in, I want to play games and score goals at that level.
‘At club level as well I want to play as high as possible. I just want to feel like, at the end of the day when my career is done, that I maximised my potential and I gave 100 per cent.
‘Wherever that will take me, I don't know. Football is a weird game. It has already taken me to all parts of the country already and I'm enjoying it.’