Tom Cleverley has said that clubs will have to pay a lot of money in order to secure Plymouth Argyle‘s Lorent Tolaj in the summer as speculation around his future continues.
The Pilgrims striker found the net for the fifth time in as many games against AFC Wimbledon on Saturday, keeping his side’s charge for the League One playoffs alive ahead of a crunch away match against Bradford City in midweek.
Cleverley Sets Out Stall
However, the Swiss forward is in hot demand this summer, and Argyle could face a real battle to hold on to their star talisman if they fail to push themselves back into the Championship at the first time of asking.
Celtic are one of a number of clubs leading the charge for the 24-year-old, with reports back in February suggesting that the Scottish giants would make a move in the summer amid their struggles for a consistent goalscorer.
However, the Hoops will face a lot of English competition to sign the forward, who joined Plymouth from newly-promoted Port Vale for a reported £1.2 million at the start of the season. Reports from Pete O’Rourke earlier in the week suggested that some unnamed Championship sides were interested in Tolaj.
After his 17th goal of the League One season against Wimbledon, Tom Cleverley spoke of the interest in his star forward to Plymouth Live.
“What is separating Tolly from a lot of people at this level is those moments. If you have got a player in your ranks that can turn a draw into a win, yeah, people will have to pay a lot of money for him.”
“His mentality is completely focused, tunnel vision to score as many goals and help this team whichever way he can. A lot of decisions went against Tolaj today and early on the in the season after getting booked he could have been off.
“I have played with a couple in my career that are special, when you think ‘This game has got draw written all over it’ – which I don’t really think today – but there is a moment and your number nine can get three points. People are going to have to pay a lot of money for him.”
“The ones who can finish like he does and make the real difference, and win you 15 points a season, are the ones that are gold dust.”
Argyle In Control
Having only just secured him over the last summer, Plymouth Argyle will sit in a very strong position as multiple clubs circle for their star striker.
Of course, a sale may not even come into question if the Pilgrims can cap off the season with promotion back to the Championship, and the promise of second tier football could be enough to satiate a striker whose stature within the game is growing by the week.
With his contract expiring in 2029, Tom Cleverley and co will hold all the cards over Tolaj’s potential suitors, and may be able to drive up the price in order to maximise profit or even swat away any interest should they be able to convince him to remain at Home Park.
Those chances could all come down to Celtic’s tense battle at the top of the Scottish Premiership this season, as a third-placed finish would only see the club enter the Europa League qualifying stages, which could tip the scales in Argyle’s favour.
