Plymouth Argyle goalkeeper Michael Cooper turns down new contract

Plymouth Argyle goalkeeper Michael Cooper has turned down the chance to sign a new contract which would have made him the club's highest paid player ever, Plymouth Live understands.

As a result, Argyle are ready to listen to offers from rival clubs for the 24-year-old, whose existing deal runs until the end of the 2024/25 season, and will look to sell Cooper this summer so they can maximise the transfer value of the talented academy product.

Talks about a new contract for Cooper, who was Argyle's Player-of-the-Year in the 2021/22 and 2022/23 seasons, have taken place since before the end of last term. Dealing with his probable departure, and finding an adequate replacement for him, will now become a key task for new Pilgrims' boss Wayne Rooney.

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Plymouth Live today asked Argyle about Cooper turning down a new contract but as per the club's long-standing policy they responded by saying they do not comment on speculation.

The Argyle squad will report for the start of pre-season training next week as they prepare for their 2024/25 Championship campaign, which will begin against Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough on Sunday, August 11.

The Pilgrims currently have three 'keepers under contract, with Northern Ireland international Conor Hazard and 19-year-old Zak Baker, who spent much of last season on loan to Southern League Premier South side Tiverton Town, being the other two in addition to Cooper. Callum Burton was released in May.

Cooper has made 161 first team appearances for Argyle since making his debut, while still an apprentice, as a half-time substitute for the injured Kyle Letheren during a League One game at Blackburn Rovers in October 2017.

He had deservedly earned a reputation as one of the top young 'keepers in the EFL before suffering a serious knee injury in a 1-0 defeat away to Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough in February 2023.

The torn anterior cruciate ligament ruled Cooper out for not only the rest of that season as Burton replaced him for the League One title-winning run-in, but he also missed the start of their first season back in the Championship in 13 years.

It led to Hazard being signed on a two-year contract from Scottish champions Celtic for £150,000 last summer and he was the first choice 'keeper until Cooper returned to action in October.

However, Cooper then had a further spell on the sidelines due to a different knee injury he sustained during a training session in December, but after three months out he was back between the posts again and played a big part in Argyle successfully avoiding relegation from the Championship.

That included keeping a clean sheet in the crucial season-ending 1-0 victory over Hull City at Home Park as Argyle stayed up by a point, with Birmingham City dropping down into League One instead.