Portsmouth, Norwich and Glasgow Rangers given clear indication of fee needed to sign 18-goal Plymouth Argyle striker
Plymouth Argyle outline stance as Pompey linked with move for striker Bim Pepple
Pompey have been told it will take significant money for Plymouth Argyle to part company with reported target Bim Pepple.
And Pilgrims boss Tom Cleverley believes few clubs outside of the Premier League will be able to stump up the sort of cash that would tempt them into selling their 18-goal frontman.
The 23-year-old striker was this week linked with a move to Fratton Park as the Blues begin work on a refreshening of their squad over the summer.
Eighteen goals in 37 appearances in 2025-26 has apparently caught Pompey’s eye as they look to bring in attacking reinforcements and competition for Colby Bishop, who ended the season on just four goals to his name.
Scottish giants Glasgow Rangers and Championship clubs Norwich City, Watford and Lincoln City have also been credited with an interest in Pepple, whose partnership with fellow striker Lorent Tolaj (21 goals) saw Plymouth narrowly miss out on a League One play-off place.
The Blues will, therefore, need to see off some serious competition if their reported interest is serious.
They’ll also need to overcome some potentially difficult negotiations if Cleverley sticks to his guns in terms of his valuation of the player.
No exact fee has been mentioned for the former Luton man, who made the move to Home Park last summer in a reported £250,000 deal.
However, ex-Manchester United midfielder Cleverley believes it’s a figure not many Championship clubs will be able to match.
What would tempt Plymouth into selling Bim Pepple?
When asked if it was realistic to keep both Pepple and Tolaj - who joined the Pilgrims for £1.1m from Port Vale last summer and is also attracking admirers - next season, Cleverley told Plymouth Live: ‘It's certainly realistic. I worked in the Championship (at Watford) for almost 18 months. There are not that many clubs that have got cash at their disposal to the extent of the fees that we will be looking for.
‘So it's realistic, the players have got long contracts. It's the way modern day football is, of rumour, of speculation, but ultimately they have had a great season and they deserve to be linked with higher levels.
‘But they are in long-term contracts and there aren’t that many clubs outside the Premier League that have those sort of fees to spend.
‘They are our players until my phone goes, or Derek (Adams, director of football), or Paul (Berne, CEO) or Simon’s (Hallett, chairman) phone goes. Let’s see.’
Pepple and Tolaj netted 39 times between them this season as Plymouth finished eighth in their first campaign back in League One following their relegation from the Championship.
They were two of 15 signings made by the Pilgrims as the Home Park side adjusted to their new third-tier surroundings. Seventeen players headed the opposite direction.
Cleverley doesn’t want a similar overhaul of his ranks this summer. But with interest ins Pepple and Tolaj reportedly growing, he knows that will be easier said than done.
‘I think it’s super important that this squad stays as consistent as possible now.,’ he added.
‘We shouldn’t have to be doing the turnaround that we did last season. We are at the same level.
;I see the team operating in a very similar way, same staff. As many of these lads that we can keep the better, but we weren’t born yesterday, we know there will be interest in those two.’