"A shining star" - Plymouth Argyle urged to avoid repeat Finn Azaz transfer scenario | OneFootball

FLW's Pilgrims fan pundit wants the club to pursue Ibrahim Cissoko's permanent signature after his great start to the season on loan

Plymouth Argyle have been urged to pursue the permanent signature of left-winger Ibrahim Cissoko after his impressive start to life at Home Park on loan from French side Toulouse.

Cissoko joined the Pilgrims on a season-long deal from the Ligue 1 outfit in July, and he has adapted very well to life in the Championship with Wayne Rooney up to now.

Argyle have defied the expectations of many so far this term, as they sit mid-table following some decent results against Sunderland, Luton Town and Blackburn Rovers, and the Dutch under-21 wide man has been a big reason for their respective successes.

The winger is Argyle's current top scorer this season across all competitions, with three goals, and has wowed Home Park supporters with his exciting, front-foot style that has also seen him register two assists, so it is understandable as to why fans and boss Rooney alike will want him to remain in the South West beyond this campaign.

Plymouth

There is surely set to be transfer interest surrounding the 21-year-old in the January window after his impressive performances, but the Pilgrims' sporting director, Neil Dewsnip, recently revealed the positive news that they have the right of first refusal should another club make a bid for him in the new year.

That means that another Finn Azaz or Luke Cundle situation from years gone by will not happen this time around, and FLW's Argyle fan pundit, Chris, has urged the club to make their own transfer advance and capture his services on a permanent basis when possible.

“Ibrahim Cissoko has so far shown that he is very capable of playing at Championship level, and is proving to be a shining star at Argyle this season," Chris told Football League World.

“With that in mind, I believe that he is going to be a pivotal player to try and secure the services of on a permanent basis.

“One element that we got caught out on with Finn Azaz, on his loan signing, was that he was recalled by his parent club, and then immediately sold on.

“With this is mind, in the clause for Cissoko’s loan deal, we get first refusal in relation to any bids that are put forward for him on a permanent basis - that m eans we are able to match any bids that are put forward for him, and we get first refusal as to whether we are happy for him to be released back to Toulouse.

“That gives us a very strong foothold on potentially securing his services more permanently.

“With attacking midfielders being difficult to come by these days, especially at Championship level, I think it is going to be extra important to secure him for the long-term.”

Ibrahim Cissoko has been a standout for Plymouth Argyle this season

Securing the loan signature of a player like Cissoko was a coup for the Greens in the summer, given his experience in the Eredivisie with NEC, and in Ligue 1 and the Europa League with Toulouse last season, so it should be no surprise that he has been a standout in their team so far.

It did not take much time for him to settle into his new surroundings in the opening stages of the campaign, as he laid on an assist for Ryan Hardie in his second Plymouth appearance against Cheltenham Town in the EFL Cup, and then followed that up with his first goal for the club to open the scoring against Hull City in their first Championship outing of the season at Home Park.

He can be forgiven for a short spell without a goal contribution, despite starting the next four league games, as his performance off the bench against Luton Town on September 27 proved his quality once more, with two well-taken second-half strikes earning Rooney's side a vital 3-1 win.

Cissoko has picked up an assist in his last two games, but may be set to miss out this weekend after he was removed from the Dutch under-21 squad due to injury last week.

It will be a real test for the Pilgrims if he is unavailable for their trip to Cardiff City, and a poor team performance in his absence would prove even further just how imperative it is to seek a permanent deal for him ahead of other clubs.