“We are close, We are hoping to have someone in for the game on Saturday, it’s looking positive”- Wayne Rooney confirms Plymouth are close to signing new goalkeeper as Pilgrims reportedly close in on deal for former Man City shot stopper Daniel Grimshaw

Wayne Rooney has stated Plymouth Argyle are ‘close’ to completing the signing of a goalkeeper amid reporting that the club are working on a deal for Daniel Grimshaw from Blackpool.

Rooney would not comment on whether Argyle were looking to bring Grimshaw, 26, to Home Park as the replacement for Michael Cooper after his transfer to Sheffield United last week. As it stands, Conor Hazard remains the Pilgrims’ only senior shot-stopper, with 19-year-old Zak Baker as back-up.

Asked for a goalkeeper update at a Press conference this lunchtime ahead of Argyle’s away game against Queens Park Rangers on Saturday lunchtime, Rooney said: “We are close. It’s down to the clubs obviously, and the club we are speaking to.

“The last I heard it’s waiting on them to get back to us on it. It is close. If it’s in by Saturday I don’t know, I hope so. We will have to wait and see.”

National football journalist Alan Nixon, who specialises in transfer stories, has reported Argyle’s interest in Grimshaw, with a fee of around £600,000 plus add-ons mentioned.

Asked directly about that, Rooney said: “There is a few keepers we are looking at. I don’t think it’s fair for me to name any player at another club. There’s not really much I can say, sorry.”

Grimshaw has started the first two League One games of the campaign for Blackpool, who sacked head coach Neil Critchley earlier this week after back-to-back defeats away to Crawley Town (2-1) and at home to Stockport County (3-0).

The Salford-born keeper signed for Blackpool from Manchester City in the summer of 2021 and has gone on to make a total of 96 starts for the Seasiders.

Rooney added: “With the timing of Michael Cooper leaving you are into the season, so whatever goalkeeper we are looking at that club has to try and have something in place for themselves. It can take a little bit more time than you hope, but I think what’s important is we get the right one in.”

The Argyle head coach indicated that in addition to a new goalkeeper there could be another couple of signings in the coming days, ahead of the summer transfer window closing next Friday (August 30).

Rooney said: “We are hoping to have someone in for the game on Saturday. I think that is looking positive but until it’s done I can’t confirm that, and then potentially again next week. We are working, we are still trying to improve the squad. I will speak to you on Saturday and you will know whether someone has come in or not!”

Argyle have brought in six summer signings, but only one since they returned from a pre-season training camp in mid July, which was Hungarian defender Kornel Szucs.

That has led to some uneasiness among fans about the lack of recent activity. Rooney said: “We have made six signings so it’s a lot, it’s a big turnover for your squad.