“The bid we have had for Morgan is a real insult”- Wayne Rooney confirms rejected bids for Plymouth Argyle duo Morgan Whittaker and Michael Cooper

Plymouth Argyle boss Wayne Rooney confirmed bids have been rejected for Michael Cooper and Morgan Whittaker.

Academy graduate Cooper may have seen injury hamper his involvement somewhat over the past 18 months or so but he is still widely viewed as one of the most talented English goalkeepers outside the Premier League.

As for Whittaker, his impressive return of 19 goals and eight assists in 46 Championship games last season proved to be key in the Pilgrims’ successful bid to avoid relegation to League One.

Unsurprisingly, their talents haven’t gone unnoticed. Sheffield United and Crystal Palace have both been linked with Plymouth Argyle ‘keeper Cooper, and it is claimed Rangers have been bidding for Whittaker.

Now, with the season right around the corner, manager Wayne Rooney has addressed the offers for the star duo. Speaking to Plymouth Live, the Argyle boss said bids for both have been ‘very far’ from the club’s valuation, labelling the Whittaker bid especially as ‘a real insult’. He said:

“When you look at what Morgan done last season, and then you are seeing the money teams are paying for other players who didn’t do half of what he done, then I think it’s a real insult, to be honest, the bid we have had for Morgan.

“Morgan is really happy here. I have seen no indications that Morgan Whittaker wants to leave the club.

“And Michael Cooper is here. I can’t be as enthusiastic as I am on Morgan, but Michael Cooper is here, he’s training well and he’s ready to play on Sunday. That’s where we are at with the two of them.”

Confirmation of the bids for Whittaker and Cooper will be somewhat unsettling for Plymouth Argyle fans as they hope to see their star men remain beyond the end of the summer transfer window.

However, given the levels the pair have shown, those same fans will acknowledge the inevitability of bids.