When those Rangers rumours reared their head again a few weeks back, it appeared that another spell of speculation was on the way.
But with things going quiet in that department, Plymouth Argyle fans are now less than a month away from parity.
For whatever reason, the expected bidding war for Morgan Whittaker just has not materialised.
Usually, when a young forward performs this well in the EFL – especially for one of the division’s lesser-moneyed clubs – he is snapped up pretty quickly.
But despite plundering 20 goals and nine assists as Plymouth narrowly avoided relegation, the perennially Rangers-linked winger has remained strangely absent from the gossip columns.
Apart from that evening in late-July, of course, when the Daily Record claimed that a bid in the region of £7 million had arrived from Ibrox.
Rangers are long-time fans of Plymouth’s Morgan Whittaker
When pressed on those reports and on Rangers directly, new Plymouth boss Wayne Rooney refused to give anything away.
“I don’t think it’s down to me to confirm which clubs they are,” he said. “I will show them clubs a bit of respect.”
What the Manchester United and England legend did say, however, is that Whittaker does not appear to be in any rush to bring an end to his outstanding spell on the south coast.
“What I’m seeing with Morgan is a really happy player,” Rooney tells the Plymouth Herald. “There is no signs that Morgan wants to leave the football club. I have been really pleased with him in pre-season. I’m delighted to be working with him again because I think he’s a real talent.
“The challenge for Morgan is can he go and improve on last season. That’s a challenge we have put on him and we hope he can because if he does that I think it puts us in a good position.”
Rooney can rest easy, too, in the knowledge that Rangers are now very unlikely to make another move before the September deadline.
Philippe Clement’s side have secured the services of Vaclav Cerny on loan from Wolfsburg. Another left-footed right-winger who likes to cut inside and wreak havoc, the ‘special’ Cerny has enjoyed a bright start in Scotland too.
It was his assist which set up Cyriel Dessers’ 94th minute equaliser away to Dynamo Kiev in Tuesday’s Champions League qualifier.
Vaclav Cerny signing ends Rangers right-wing search
Plymouth, meanwhile, will have Whittaker available for Sunday’s Championship opener at Sheffield Wednesday. And few Argyle fans would have predicted that when the former Swansea City starlet ended last season with 20 goals and links with Italian giants Lazio.
Rooney does confirm that Plymouth have received a bid, though he stopped short of saying how much it was or where it came from.
“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,” Rooney adds.
“I have seen no indications that Morgan Whittaker wants to leave the club. I think big clubs will try and come in for Morgan but (there are) no indications at all that he wants to leave the football club.
“And I think for us to move forward players like Morgan Whittaker, who have got a big contract behind them, we have to keep these players.”
Rangers was first mentioned as a potential destination for Whittaker midway through 2022/23, when he was only a temporary member of the Plymouth squad.
The Gers reportedly offered £2 million at the time, per Fabrizio Romano.
