Several sources are mentioning Swansea forward Morgan Whittaker again, and his admirers remain Plymouth Argyle and Scottish premiership side Rangers. It seems an almost certainty Morgan will leave but the issues will again arise on his transfer fee as they did in January.
It’s without doubt had Rangers offered Swansea City’s valuation of Morgan he would have left the Swans during the last transfer window. It seems odd that with the clubs not too far away from a deal that Rangers didn’t push for his signing then. Russell Martin has countered the transfer talk stating that Morgan was brought back to Swansea from his loan spell at Argyle to be a part of the squad. That was the case but nobody can tell us here had Rangers stumped up the required amount he would have gone north.
Once again, despite being in the squad Morgan failed to get the game time he desired and was played as a substitute for most of his remaining time last season. Martin stated after the goal Whittaker scored against Stoke City. "He wants to play in the middle of the pitch, he does not really want to be out wide but he did great when he was out there, as well. His flexibility will help us, his finishing ability will help us and we are looking forward to seeing him have a strong finish to the season.” With Joel Piroe maintaining his strong run of goal scoring Martin seldom saw them both as a front attacking pairing.
The Daily Record continue to mention Morgan as a transfer target of Gers manager Michael Beale, other publications such as football insider 247 and football Scotland also continue with snippets relating to Beale and Whittaker. Rangers have three more fixtures to fulfil this season before they go in to their summer break returning in July with a friendly at Ibrox against Newcastle United. Any business by Rangers in principle cannot be done domestically until July 1st as it falls within the ‘international’ bracket for transfers ( clubs in the English and Scottish leagues ) Domestic transfers can take place from June 10th. Unless Rangers and Swansea do some business behind the scenes in some form that should leave Plymouth in a position to hijack Rangers plans. There is an aside to this, clubs can agree on transfers earlier than June 10th but they will not become official – and the player involved will not be able to join his new side – until the window opens. ( source The Athletic )
Altogether it’s not as straight forward as many think, and to be quite honest if Rangers want Whittaker then it could easily be agreed before it all becomes official. The same can be said for Plymouth but there’s uncertainty they will stretch to the nigh on three million pounds the Swans want for their player.
It seems certain Whittaker will leave Swansea this summer as the club bargain with Russell Martin this week on a new contract. The issue there of course is the increased interest in him by Southampton and of course the pound signs in the Swans majority owners eyes should he leave. It will mean that he will take his staff with him. We should also remember he will also want to take certain players with him from Swansea resulting in a bumper incoming transfer cash pot for the Swans. If they can resist that, retain Martin and offer him the contract he desires of course all that becomes pretty much redundant.
Then of course if he does stay at Swansea the queue of clubs for Joel Piroe, Whittaker and possibly even Nathan Wood will then form. Clear as mud isn’t it ?