Morgan Whittaker: Plymouth Argyle forward spurred on by Lazio bid

Morgan Whittaker was the subject of much speculation in the January transfer window

Plymouth Argyle forward Morgan Whittaker says a transfer bid from Italian giants Lazio has spurred him on to play better.

The 23-year-old scored the only goal in his side's 1-0 win at former club Swansea City on Saturday.

It came just a few days after Argyle turned down an offer from the Rome-based side, who are preparing to face Bayern Munich in the Champions League.

He has scored 17 goals in 23 games this season including nine in his last 10.

"You've just got to look and think 'these clubs are in for you, it's amazing, just use that to kick on and keep playing with confidence and don't let it stress you out'," Whittaker told BBC Radio Devon after the match.

"Obviously it's a lot because your name's in the headlines, but when a team like that comes in you've just got to use it as a positive and just show how far you've come."

Whittaker moved to Home Park last summer for a club record fee of in excess of £1m.

He spent the first half of last season on loan at Argyle, but was recalled against his wishes in January amid speculation he would be sold to Rangers.

But Swansea failed to agree a deal to sell him and he stayed at the club, starting twice in the Championship and making 13 further appearances off the bench.

And Whittaker was keen to repay the faith shown in him by his current employers.

"My head was never going to be turned," he said.

"Because of how happy I am here it's no-brainer for me to stay and kick on.

"I'm happy," he added. "What I've learned being in football is happiness is everything and I've finally got that, and I don't want to give that up yet."

'He's a wonderfully gifted footballer'

Whittaker has scored 16 goals in 29 Championship appearances this season

Argyle head coach Ian Foster took Whittaker and his partner out to breakfast on Wednesday, the day after Plymouth turned down Lazio's bid, to discuss how he can improve him.

Foster has already given him the captain's armband on occasions since taking over last month, and says he can still get better.

"My job is to make him more complete so people can't say 'he doesn't do this and he doesn't do that'," he told BBC Radio Devon.

"He's a wonderfully gifted footballer, we know, but he's proving as well now that as captain of the football club he can do the dirty side of it as well.

"The board have been brilliant, I think they've been really brave," Foster added.

"I think they've been quite open and transparent throughout the entire window in that he's not a player they want to sell. More importantly it's a player that doesn't want to leave.

"It's rare sometimes in football that you get players who are just really happy and content in terms of where they live, who they play football with, who they work with, who they represent.

"Him and his family are loving life at the moment, so they're not in a rush to go anywhere, and that's lovely as well, and that's a testament to the football club."