Plymouth Argyle are facing further threats to their hopes of keeping Aribim Pepple at the club, with Wrexham now ready to accelerate their interest in the Canadian international.
The 23-year-old was linked to several transfers in the build-up to the summer window, with previous links suggesting that Portsmouth and Bolton Wanderers, among others, were keen on signing the striker.
Red Dragons Face Multi-Club Battle
However, while the initial noise had died down in the build-up to the start of the season, new interest has emerged from the Championship in the form of both Wrexham and Preston North End.
According to the Guardian’s Will Unwin, the pair are facing competition for Pepple’s services, with clubs from across Europe and MLS eyeing a potential swoop, but it is Phil Parkinson’s side that is prepared to ‘ramp up’ their summer interest.
Wrexham have invested heavily in striking options in recent windows, with Davis Keillor-Dunn, Bailey Cadamarteri and Sam Smith all arriving in the past 18 months to varying levels of fanfare.
Preston have also been monitoring the forward market amid links that Milutin Osmajic may move on from Deepdale, and had eyed a move for Pepple’s strike partner at Argyle in Lorent Tolaj, prior to his £4 million move to Bristol City.
Since arriving for an initial £250,000 from Luton Town, the Canadian has become a standout for Tom Cleverley, scoring 19 goals across 43 appearances in Devon so far.
Adding new striking options has been a priority for Plymouth following Tolaj’s exit, with Will Evans brought in from Mansfield Town, and further additions were being weighed up by the manager in the wake of an injury to Owen Oseni.
Argyle Must Shut Down Battle
Aribim Pepple could have easily been on his way out of Plymouth Argyle this summer, but with a hefty fee received in the sale of his strike partner Lorent Tolaj, there was no need to sanction his exit given the funds they raised in that deal.
Having seen off early window interest, the 23-year-old has already hit the ground running this season with a goal in their EFL Cup win over Devon rivals Exeter City, and is sure to continue his fine goalscoring record across the season.
However, now, further names have come forward in the race to sign Pepple, with Wrexham and Preston North End interested in making offers before the window shuts at the start of September.
Given their injury worries up front already as well as having little need to sell their star talisman, Plymouth should be able to easily see off this latest threat and dictate their position thoroughly to potential suitors.
