Crystal Palace and Coventry City have both expressed interest in securing Plymouth Argyle’s goalkeeper Michael Cooper this summer, according to a report from Alan Nixon’s Patreon service. The Sun’s Nixon highlighted the clubs’ pursuit of Cooper, suggesting a likely departure from Home Park.
Earlier reports from Plymouth Live indicated that Cooper turned down a lucrative new contract with Plymouth Argyle, which would have made him the highest-paid player in the club’s history. With just one year remaining on his current deal, Plymouth now faces the task of negotiating a transfer fee for Cooper and finding a suitable replacement.
New Plymouth Head Coach Wayne Rooney, who joined the club in May, will play a pivotal role in these decisions as the club seeks to maximize the value of Cooper, who emerged from their academy ranks.
According to Alan Nixon’s report, Crystal Palace are interested in Michael Cooper but are waiting to find a buyer for Sam Johnstone before making any moves. Johnstone, who has returned to training after surgery, shared goalkeeping duties with Dean Henderson last season. If Johnstone leaves Palace soon, manager Oliver Glasner aims to swiftly secure Cooper as a replacement.
Coventry City is also eyeing Cooper, but the allure of Premier League football at Palace could be enticing, even though Cooper would compete with Henderson for a starting role. Sheffield United, now in the Championship after relegation, has shown previous interest in signing Cooper for the upcoming 2024/25 campaign.
Despite Plymouth Argyle’s efforts to retain him, Cooper seems likely to depart this summer. His standout performances in the Championship last season were crucial in Plymouth narrowly avoiding relegation, despite missing a significant portion of the season due to injury.
Cooper’s statistics from the 2023/24 Championship season underscore his impact, with 19 appearances, 6 clean sheets, and crucial saves contributing to Plymouth’s defensive efforts.
While Plymouth may face losing Cooper to a Championship rival like Sheffield United or Coventry, their focus now shifts to securing the best possible fee for his transfer rather than attempting to retain him against his likely preferences for Premier League football opportunities.
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