Controversial ex-Ranger left ruing failed £7m Ibrox bid as late show proves Gers credentials
10/06/2024 03:55 AM
There's been plenty made about Rangers' interest in Plymouth Argyle attacker Morgan Whittaker.
The 23-year-old forward has been making quite the impression at Home Park following a club-record £1m move to the south coast last summer.
But had Rangers had it their way, Morgan Whitaker would've been at Ibrox long before he returned to the Pilgrims after an initially successful loan stint with Argyle in 2022.
With Swansea City refusing to play ball in the winter of 2023, Rangers reportedly returned this summer to tempt Plymouth and Whittaker amid talk of £7m bids.
But after sticking around in the English Championship this season, one controversial ex-Rangers star might be wishing that the forward had moved to Ibrox a few months ago.
Morgan Whittaker breaks Blackburn hearts
Plymouth manager Wayne Rooney has previously insisted Morgan Whittaker is not for sale.
The attacker is Plymouth's main attacking lifeline, capable of the magnificent and a reliable goalscorer at a time when they're in increasingly short supply.
So it's no surprise to see Whittaker dig the Manchester United legend out of another hole with a 97th-minute Home Park winner in the English second tier.
Plymouth welcomed on-form Blackburn Rovers to their stadium over the weekend and the Lancashire club were left heartbroken just moments from the final whistle.
Michael Obafemi's first-half Plymouth opener had been cancelled out by a late Joe Rankin-Costello header, but up popped Morgan Whittaker to steal the headlines.
Rooney had been sent packing from the touchline for his protestations following the Blackburn equaliser and his £1m man produced a £1m moment.
Rangers lack this level of attacking responsibility and it would almost certainly be welcome at Ibrox.
With Whittaker cheekily nodding the ball home into the far corner, the result means Plymouth have now won three home games on the bounce and it is Blackburn's second defeat in a row.
Rangers fans will also note the inclusion of Todd Cantwell, who came off the bench for Rovers in the second half of the match.
Cantwell has been lauded by Blackburn manager John Eustace lately but was powerless to resist as Whittaker won the day for Plymouth.
Rangers left-winger transfer hunt goes on
Rangers fans want to see more quality added to the club's squad in January with left-wing a problem area.
After a failure to qualify for the Champions League, Brighton sent Abdallah Sima out on loan elsewhere and now the Senegalese is tearing up club football's elite competition.
The Gers also saw a last minute loan deal for Southampton's Samuel Edozie collapse when Sassuolo moved the goalposts on the Nedim Bajrami transfer.
With Oscar Cortes and Rabbi Matondo both yet to prove their fitness or consistency at Rangers, it's left the club painfully short in the position.
Interim chairman John Gilligan insists Philippe Clement will have money to spend in January with this area expected to see reinforcement.
Morgan Whittaker would be a crowd-pleasing if not expensive addition and we suspect those Rangers links might crop up again in the weeks and months ahead.
The winger himself was asked about the interest from Ibrox and Whittaker certainly didn't shut the door on a move to Rangers.
