Plymouth Argyle goalkeeper Michael Cooper has turned down an offer of a new contract with the club, according to a report from Plymouth Live.
The shot-stopper was said to have been offered a deal that would have made him the highest-paid player at the club, but has made his intentions clear that he will not be extending his stay at Home Park.
With the 24-year-old still having 12 months left on his current contract, the Pilgrims will now be willing to listen to offers for the academy graduate, so they can cash in on one of their prized assets.
The young custodian has played 141 league games for his boyhood club to date, and featured 19 times in the previous campaign after returning from a ligament injury, having joined the club at the age of nine.
At the half of an 18-year-old match against Blackburn Rovers, Cooper was thrown onto the field, marking the spontaneous beginning of his professional career as a Pilgrim. Since then, he has gone on to excel in goal at Home Park.
The childhood Argyle supporter has established himself as the first choice in goal in each of the last four seasons, when fitness has let him, with his amazing reflexes and superb defense-manning.
He missed the second part of the Pilgrims’ League One promotion campaign in 22–23 due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury he sustained against Sheffield Wednesday. He then had another setback midway through the previous campaign, which limited him to just 19 Championship games.
The 24-year-old’s presence has been consoling for Argyle when he has been healthy and ready, as evidenced by his ability to consistently fend off opposition advances on display and his incredible maneuvers.
Not only that, but his ability with the ball in hand or at his feet is crucial in starting the Greens’ attacks, with his presence of mind kickstarting many a counter-attack for his side over the years.
Plymouth Argyle must be prepared for transfer battle after major Michael Cooper contract update
This summer, the outstanding goalie will probably receive a lot of bids from top two tier teams, so the Greens shouldn’t have any trouble landing one.
Journalist Alan Nixon of The Sun claimed that Cooper had previously been approached by Aston Villa, but that move was probably shelved until he recovered from his injuries.
The goalie is reportedly drawing “widespread interest” from other teams this summer, according to the same source, who also notes that Wayne Rooney, the new manager, is trying to get him to sign a longer contract when he first arrived at Home Park.
However, it appears that negotiations have fallen down, and the two-time Argyle Player of the Year will be moving on to greener pastures this summer, leaving the Greens to search the transfer market for a successor.
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