Plymouth Argyle key player has been suspended with over 3 month due to…

Plymouth Argyle supporters are braced on two fronts in the January transfer window: that loan stars might be recalled or that their old boss Steven Schumacher might try to lure some of his old gang up to the Potteries. And there are fears that midfielder Finn Azaz might tick both boxes.

Azaz was taken on loan from Aston Villa by Schumacher to Home Park in the summer of 2022 and impressed despite injury as Argyle steamrollered their way to the League One title. The 23-year-old was taken back again for another season by Schumacher in pre-season – but Villa have the option of a mid-season recall if they think he can break into their team or it would suit them to move him on to another club, either on loan or permanently.

He has scored seven and set up another five so far this term, including the first in a 3-3 draw with Watford yesterday, and that kind of form has ensured he has been coming to the attention of clubs across the Championship – especially because of his potential availability either now or soon. His Villa contract is believed to run out this year. Schumacher has been emphatic in his appraisal of the youngster, describing him as the “most intelligent footballer, away from football” he had ever met, with “outstanding game knowledge”.

Plymouth are aware of the dangers, having seen leading man Morgan Whittaker recalled from loan by Swansea mid-way through last season. It took about £1m to get him back on a permanent deal a few months later.

Caretaker Plymouth manager Neil Dewsnip, who is the club’s director of football and has known Schumacher for 30 years, has told the Plymouth Herald: “Last year would suggest that we need to be aware of every possibility.

“So you will recall last year that Morgan went back to Swansea and that was beyond our control. We are in ongoing discussions with all our loan players’ clubs to make sure we are ready for whatever it is. Hopefully he stays with us of course.”

Right-back Kaine Kesler-Hayden and midfielder Luke Cundle fall into the same bracket half-way through their loans from Aston Villa and Wolves respectively.

But Stoke had already long been planning their January transfer business before Schumacher’s arrival, although the head coach will have an input alongside technical director Ricky Martin and head of recruitment Jared Dublin.

He said in the week he made the switch: “It’s not in my immediate plan right now to go ‘I’m going back to Argyle for their best players’. That isn’t what we are doing. There has been a recruitment process in place at this club as you would imagine since the summer window closed, similar to what it has been at Argyle.