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- Head coach says 24-year-old will not leave the club until their valuation is met
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Plymouth winger Morgan Whittaker refused to play in his side’s defeat at Burnley amid speculation over his future at the club.
Whittaker has scored 33 goals in 103 appearances for the Pilgrims since his £1million move from Swansea in 2023.
However, the 24-year-old’s future at Home Park is in doubt, with Burnley and Hull among the clubs reportedly keen to sign him this month.
Whittaker has also been linked with the likes of Lazio, Atalanta, Rangers and Premier League sides, including Brentford, in recent times.
The forward – who scored the winner in Argyle’s FA Cup shock against Brentford this month – fuelled the speculation when he failed to make the squad for Wednesday’s 5-0 home loss to Burnley.
And, speaking after the game, head coach Miron Muslic astonishingly revealed that he selected Whittaker to feature but claimed the forward refused to turn up.
Plymouth winger Morgan Whittaker was absent from Wednesday’s clash with Burnley
Head coach Miron Muslic revealed Whittaker was selected but refused to turn up
The 24-year-old has been linked with a move to Burnley, who claimed a 5-0 win at Home Park
‘We need players who really want to play for Argyle so we can always come to them when we need players, who are ready to give everything,’ he said.
‘I know he’s a target and linked with transfers. He was available today, he was in the selection and he wasn’t there.
‘So, it’s what I said again, we need to change this mentality, we need to change the locker room, we need to get characters inside with the desire to face this challenge and to give it all, that’s our only way and our only chance.’
Muslic elaborated: ‘He was in the selection, and that’s everything I have to say.
‘Morgan is an Argyle player under contract here as long as nobody has paid the money we as an organisation demand, to pay his value.
‘He’s an Argyle player and he has responsibilities and obligations to Argyle and like I said, that’s one of the reasons why Argyle is struggling for the last months.
‘Morgan didn’t show up, he was in the selection. We had a game today, he was in the selection, he wasn’t there, and that’s everything I have to say on Morgan.’
Plymouth suffered a heavy defeat against the Clarets, with Zian Flemming and Josh Laurent both netting braces before Josh Cullen added a fifth in a rampant first half.
Muslic, who replaced Wayne Rooney as head coach this month, faces a huge task to keep Plymouth in the Championship, with the side still rooted to the bottom and six points adrift of safety.
