Million pound signings show that Pilgrims mean business

WHAT a week it has been at Plymouth Argyle. If anyone still doubted the club's ambition under owner and chairman Simon Hallett, manager Steven Schumacher and director of football Neil Dewsnip then those thoughts must surely have been dispelled.

- Chris Errington

There has been not just one club-record £1 million transfer, but two of them within five days. And remember the previous largest amount paid out for a player by the Pilgrims was £500,000 for Steven MacLean in January 2008.

The Scottish striker did not turn out to be good value for money for Argyle, scoring just five goals in 48 league games over two-and-half-years.

Nothing is guaranteed in football but the signings this week of Morgan Whittaker and Bali Mumba promise the hope of much, much better.

It is no exaggeration to say they were two of the top players in League One last season, and played huge parts in Argyle's title triumph.

At the ages of 22 and 21 respectively, Whittaker and Mumba are only likely to continue to improve, with manager Steven Schumacher seemingly able to get the best out of them while other bosses have failed to do that.

Make no mistake, there is a big step up from League One to the Championship, and it will probably not all go smoothly for Argyle's two joint club record signings in 2023/24.

But Schumacher, his staff, everyone at Home Park and the Green Army have all seen the skill they have already, with the potential for even better to come in the years ahead.

That is why it is particularly notable that Argyle have given Whittaker and Mumba contracts until the summer of 2027. They are going to be players the club build their future around.