Exclusive: Don Goodman reacts as Plymouth Argyle battle Huddersfield Town for 27-year-old

Former footballer and current Sky Sports pundit Don Goodman has urged Plymouth Argyle to sign out-of-contract Preston North End midfielder Ryan Ledson amid recent reports of the Greens’ interest in his services as they return to League One.

Argyle succumbed to relegation from the second tier on the final day of the season earlier this month and are now preparing for life back in League One with numerous incomings and outgoings likely this summer.

Their supporters’ main desire will be to see head coach Miron Muslic stick around for their return to the third tier, after he impressed in the role at the back end of the campaign despite being unable to save them from the drop.

The Greens’ transfer plans have already kicked into gear after Football League World exclusively revealed that they are tracking Bristol Rovers’ Kamil Conteh, and Ledson is another midfielder who is seemingly on their radar as a potential free signing in the coming months.

Don Goodman issues Ryan Ledson, Plymouth Argyle transfer verdict: Pilgrims fans ‘would love’ him on their team

Ledson’s seven-year stay at Preston is soon due to come to an end, after the club confirmed earlier this month that he would be departing this summer with his current contract set to expire in June.

 

He has been in and out of the Lilywhites’ starting eleven under numerous different managers over the years but is a solid player at the second-tier level and even picked up their Players’ and Supporters’ Player of the Year awards for the 2020/21 season.

The 27-year-old’s impending Deepdale departure has reportedly alerted numerous clubs to his availability this summer. The Daily Record has claimed that Plymouth are interested in snapping him up on a free transfer soon, with Oxford United, Bolton Wanderers, Huddersfield Town, and Scottish side Hibernian also linked with a move.

 

 

Ledson would no doubt be a great addition to Muslic’s ranks as the Pilgrims look to stage a League One promotion challenge next season, and Sky Sports co-commentator Don Goodman has backed Plymouth to make a move for his services in the coming months, as he believes that the Home Park faithful would take to the Liverpool-born enforcer well.

Speaking exclusively to Football League World, Goodman said, “Ryan Ledson to Plymouth Argyle…solid is exactly what he would be, a very solid signing.

“He’s got vast experience in the Championship, and so you would expect him to perhaps even find League One a little easier.

“He’s a leader, a little bit of a throwback as he likes a tackle, and I think the Plymouth Argyle fans would love having a player like him on their side.

 

“I can see the merits of (signing him) from a Plymouth perspective.”

Ledson would be a top signing in League One – Plymouth may struggle to sign him amid Hibs’ interest

Ledson has failed to properly impact Preston’s fortunes over the last few seasons, with a lack of progression since his 2020/21 exploits likely owing to his lack of a contract offer and subsequent release from Deepdale this summer.

With that said, he is still a player who has played regularly in the Championship for the last seven years, with four goals and 11 assists in 191 second-tier appearances since he joined the Lilywhites.

He was previously a standout in League One with Oxford United at just 20 years old and so is surely likely to be one of the best defensive midfielders in the division if he chooses to drop down once again at the age of 27, with experience and nous added to his existing quality.

Plymouth are set to be one of the stronger sides in the third tier next term, especially if Muslic is still in charge, and so they will fancy their chances of tempting Ledson with a move to Home Park ahead of the likes of Huddersfield and Bolton.

The potential stumbling block they may face is if his former side, Oxford, shore up their interest with a contract offer, which would see him stay in the Championship at a club that he already has strong ties to.

As well as that, Hibs are a major player in Scotland right now and have guaranteed their place in European competition for next season after finishing third in the Scottish Premiership under David Gray.

The chance to pit himself against some of the continent’s top talent would surely be too good for Ledson to turn down, so Argyle needs to act fast to secure his services if they are serious about making him theirs for next season and beyond.

 

 

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