Exclusive: Don Goodman raises Plymouth Argyle transfer issue that is "similar to Ryan Hardie" | OneFootball

Don Goodman believes Mustapha Bundu will be on the radar of multiple clubs this summer

Plymouth Argyle's relegation to League One could lead to a mass exodus at Home Park this summer, with some of the Pilgrims’ leading players expected to be in high demand.

Mustapha Bundu fits that bill perfectly, ending the Championship campaign as arguably the side’s most valuable player.

The winger dwarfed his goal contribution tally from the 2023/24 season this term, bagging 11 goals and providing six assists in all competitions – made even more impressive due to his team’s diminishing performance.

These outings aren’t likely to have gone unnoticed, and with Championship teams constantly on the search for firepower in attack, Bundu’s time at Plymouth may be coming to an end.

Speaking exclusively to Football League World, Sky Sports pundit and former EFL striker Don Goodman stated why he believes Bundu may be on the radar of multiple clubs this window.

“Ramification of relegation” – Don Goodman issues worrying prediction for Argyle fans

“It’s very similar to Ryan Hardie in many respects,” explained Goodman. “10 goals and six assists in a struggling championship team is a very, very good effort.

“It possibly took a little while for him to settle in, coming in from different climbs, but there's no doubt he's an absolute handful. He's a big man, puts himself about and makes life awkward for defenders.

“Unfortunately for Plymouth, it's a ramification of relegation that there is going to be interest in relegated teams and the players that stood out, and he was certainly one of those.”

Argyle would need a miracle to keep hold of Bundu

A bittersweet feeling swept around Home Park throughout the final stages of the Championship season, because under Miron Muslic, the side had developed into a solid second-tier outfit.

The Pilgrims sit 11th in the form table across the last six games, and looked a comfortably better side than a healthy portion of their opponents as the season concluded.

That said, the facts are plain to see, and Argyle will be playing League One football next year. As a result, it’s going to be a mighty task to try and get Bundu to remain at Home Park for the 2025/26 campaign.

Compiling Plymouth’s problems is the fact that the forward’s deal with the club is set to expire in the summer, meaning the Pilgrims wouldn’t receive any compensation for the player they helped nurture and adapt to the Championship.

That means their only option is to try and tempt Bundu with a lucrative new deal, but teams in the second-tier would be able to match Argyle’s contract and offer more, which brings the situation into quite a pessimistic light for the Home Park faithful.

If interest from the Championship presents itself, it seems a no-brainer for the Sierra Leone international to move on. However, Muslic has said that he will “try everything” to get Bundu to remain at the club and it’s yet to be seen what Argyle have up their sleeve.

Time will tell if Plymouth can somehow convince Bundu to continue his stint with the club, but for now Argyle fans will just have to cross their fingers and hope for the best.