Cleverley frustrated at search for new striker
Tom Cleverley takes charge of his first competitive game as Plymouth Argyle head coach on Saturday
- Published
Plymouth Argyle head coach Tom Cleverley says he is frustrated that the club has been unable to bring in a new striker before the start of the season.
The new Pilgrims boss has made an experienced number nine his top priority over the summer after Ryan Hardie and Mustapha Bundu left the club.
But as yet negotiations for a new striker have not yielded any success.
"It's very difficult to execute a big move, which it is for our club in getting that player in," Cleverley told BBC Radio Devon.
"It's not as straightforward as just shaking hands and the deal is done."
Cleverley said "the finer details" of a deal were coming together and he hoped it would be completed as soon as possible.
"I'm not one for talking about other clubs' players, but we've identified that person and he's a player I rate highly," he said.
"There's no point bringing in just a number or someone to keep the anxiety down that we're short in a position.
"It's got to be the right one, it's got to fit in with how I want to play and how I see the team being successful and that's maybe why it's taken a little bit longer."
Argyle's hunt is more acute with Bim Pepple a doubt for Saturday's opening game of the season against Barnsley with a hamstring issue.
It leaves Owen Aseni as the only recognised striker as Argyle return to league One after two seasons in the Championship.
"I'm sure that deal will happen. It's one that we wished happened six weeks ago, but these things happen," added Cleverley.
"You always ask the question 'why does it take till deadline day to get a deal done?' but you see why when there's a lot of cat and mouse in the negotiations."
He added: "It's the marquee position in a team and it's the part of a season where football fans want to be excited by people coming through the door.
"I absolutely understand their anxieties, their frustrations and hopefully we can mask over those on Saturday with a really top quality performance and scoring lots of goals."