PLYMOUTH ARGYLE star Morgan Whittaker REFUSED to turn up for last night’s Championship clash with Burnley, claims boss Miron Muslic.
Whittaker, 24, has been Argyle’s star man since signing permanently from Swansea in a £1million transfer in the summer of 2023.
The winger was denied a potential move to Lazio last January, and was linked with Burnley last summer.
Argyle have turned down bids from the Clarets and Middlesbrough this month and are demanding at least double the £5million offered.
Swansea possess a hefty sell-on clause, which has contributed to Argyle digging in on their asking price.
Whittaker is under contract at Home Park until 2027.
The highly-rated attacker, who was named in last season’s Championship Team of the Year, had been due to face one of his potential suitors, Burnley, last night.
But he was a notable absentee from Muslic’s matchday squad.
And when the new Argyle boss was asked about Whittaker’s absence after his side’s grim 5-0 defeat, he pulled no punches.
The 42-year-old said: “We need players who really want to play for Argyle so we can always come to them when we need players, who are ready to give everything.
“I know he’s a target and linked with transfers. He was available today, he was in the selection and he wasn’t there.
“So, it’s what I said again, we need to change this mentality, we need to change the locker room, we need to get characters inside with the desire to face this challenge and to give it all, that’s our only way and our only chance.”
Muslic then continued: “He was in the selection, and that’s everything I have to say.
“Morgan is an Argyle player under contract here as long as nobody has paid the money we as an organisation demand, to pay his value.
“He’s an Argyle player and he has responsibilities and obligations to Argyle and like I said, that’s one of the reasons why Argyle is struggling for the last months.
“Morgan didn’t show up, he was in the selection. We had a game today, he was in the selection, he wasn’t there, and that’s everything I have to say on Morgan.”
SunSport understands that Boro are favourites to secure Whittaker’s signature this month.
The move would see him reunite with former Argyle team-mate Finn Azaz, who has shone on Teesside since cutting short his Home Park loan last January to quit parent club Aston Villa for Boro.
Whittaker scored 19 Championship goals last season as Argyle stayed up on the final day.
But he has endured a significantly less prolific campaign this time around, with the Pilgrims having struggled under Muslic’s predecessor Wayne Rooney.
He offered a stark reminder of his quality in the FA Cup earlier this month, scoring a brilliant winner as Argyle dumped Brentford out of the FA Cup under caretaker boss Kevin Nancekivell.
The Championship’s bottom side return to action this Saturday, when they make the long trip to high-flying Sunderland.
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