Plymouth Argyle need to move for Sheffield United target after Michael Cooper saga: View | OneFootball

Carl Rushworth was said to be on the Blades' radar this summer, and Argyle should be eyeing up a deal as Cooper's replacement

After months of speculation, Michael Cooper is finally on the brink of completing his move from Plymouth Argyle to Sheffield United.

The Argyle academy graduate is set to move to Bramall Lane for a fee which could reportedly rise up to £4 million with add-ons, as he brings his 15-year association with the Devon outfit to an end.

The two Championship clubs had been embroiled in conversations about the shot-stopper ever since the glovesman rejected the offer of a new deal at Home Park in July, with the Greens finally relenting after reportedly rejecting two bids earlier in the summer.

With a gaping void needing to be filled quick sharp, Argyle should be looking to a player that the Blades had been eyeing up as an alternative to Cooper earlier in the transfer window, who could add plenty of quality as the last line of defence.

Plymouth Argyle need to make Carl Rushworth approach after Sheffield United ordeal

After Argyle had rejected the second of United’s bids for Cooper earlier in the month, the Bladesmen were said to have turned their attention to Carl Rushworth as an alternative option for the season ahead.

The two Championship clubs looked like they had hit an impassé regarding the goalkeeper, before the 24-year-old was left out of the Pilgrims’ opening day defeat to Sheffield Wednesday, as talk continued over his impending departure.

And with the deal finally close to getting over the line, Argyle could do no better than bringing the Brighton and Hove Albion player to the club for the season ahead, after he excelled for Swansea City in the previous campaign.

The Swans are said to be keen on bringing the 23-year-old back to Wales before the transfer window shuts, while fellow second tier outfit Blackburn Rovers are also said to have an interest in his services.

Rushworth reportedly had a move to Premier League new boys Ipswich Town blocked this summer as the Seagulls didn’t want to lose him permanently, which is further proof of how highly he is rated at the Amex Stadium.

The Sussex side are said to be willing to let him go out on loan for another campaign though, and Argyle need to make the most of that opportunity and seize the initiative in the race for the top talent.

Carl Rushworth will fix Plymouth Argyle goalkeeping conundrum

It was plain for all to see how shaky Conor Hazard looked with the ball at his feet in the 4-0 defeat to Sheffield Wednesday on Sunday, with the Northern Irishman constantly gifting the hosts possession with his woeful ball control.

Rooney and Argyle will be looking to play with a penalty box patroller who is more than comfortable in possession, and can help to build attacks from the back, and Rushworth is a man that fits that bill perfectly.

You only have to look at the England youth international’s time in the second tier last season to see how much of an influence he can have when his side is in possession, with his passing figures reflecting as much.

Only Leicester City’s Mads Hermansen attempted more passes than Rushworth’s 1,897 in open play throughout the 23/24 campaign, a figure that equates to 41.2 per 90, compared to Cooper’s 34.2 per match played.

His composure with the ball at his feet can add so much to this Argyle side, who looked bereft of ideas when passing the ball around at the back at Hillsborough, with their lack of confidence in Hazard’s passing leading to more problems as the match went on.

In terms of keeping the opposition at bay, Rushworth also excels, with a 70.9% save percentage among the leading players in the division, as well as ten clean sheets to his name across the campaign.

The only thing that Argyle fans may be concerned about is Cooper’s incredible ability to deal with crosses, with the 24-year-old stopping 11.0% of balls in from wide areas, compared to Rushworth’s 5.9%.

That was an issue that was highlighted in the opening day humbling, with all four of Wednesday’s goals coming from deliveries from the wide areas, and will be something Rooney will need to address as soon as possible.

But on the whole, Rushworth would be an ideal replacement for Cooper at this moment in time, and leave the Argyle recruitment team with some extra time to find a long-term replacement at the club.

Rather than ruminating over transfer fees for their academy graduate, the Pilgrims need to be moving forward as quickly as possible with the extra money they have in the bank, and use the Cooper influx to add quality in other areas of the pitch.