Plymouth Argyle are moving to sign Everton youngster Reece Welch this month, after the defender was also eyed by Sheffield Wednesday.
The Pilgrims need to enjoy a strong January transfer window to pull themselves clear of the League One drop zone following last season’s relegation from the Championship.
Argyle successfully defeated Burton Albion 3-0 last Sunday, but Tom Cleverley’s men remain just three points clear of the third tier’s relegation zone.
Plymouth face Peterborough United in their next League One outing on Saturday, 17 January, and will hope to have completed notable transfer business by then.
Plymouth work on Reece Welch deal amid Sheffield Wednesday interest in Everton man
Argyle’s next match sees them face Bristol Rovers in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday, while Cleverley is also focused on bringing new players to Home Park.
Meanwhile, according to Football Insider, Plymouth are working on a deal to sign Welch from Everton in the January transfer window.
The same report states that Sheffield Wednesday are interested in the defender, as the Owls vie to strengthen their backline amid an increasingly difficult Championship season at Hillsborough.
Welch has made three senior appearances for the Toffees, while he spent the first half of the 2023/24 season on loan with Forest Green Rovers, then of League Two.
The 22-year-old also had a loan stint with Belgian outfit Deinze in the 2024/25 season, while he has represented Everton’s under-21s in Premier League 2 this term.
Reece Welch can help Tom Cleverley fix glaring issue at Plymouth
The fact that Cleverley previously played for Everton could mean that the Pilgrims hold the upper hand over Sheffield Wednesday in the race for Welch’s services.
Furthermore, the League One club are in better financial standing than their Championship counterparts, who are yet to exit administration following the wrongdoings of ex-chairman Dejphon Chansiri.
Plymouth have managed a respectable return of 32 goals in 25 third-tier fixtures this season, but their defensive record at the other end of the pitch leaves a lot to be desired.
Cleverley’s men have conceded 39 goals in League One this season, which is just two fewer than Doncaster Rovers, who appear destined for relegation back to League Two.
Therefore, acquiring Everton defender Welch, who has appeared in both the FA Cup and the EFL Cup for the Toffees, is a wise move for Argyle.
Welch’s previous EFL experience with Forest Green, coupled with his strong football education in Merseyside, suggests that he has what it takes to improve Plymouth’s defence.
The Pilgrims face tricky fixtures in January, including clashes against play-off contenders Luton Town and Stockport County, so Cleverley will want Welch through the doors at Home Park sooner rather than later.
Two consecutive relegations would be a disastrous outcome for a Plymouth outfit who won the League One title back in 2023, and potential signing Welch could help the South West club prevent that outcome.
Furthermore, the congested nature of the third tier this term means that the Devon side remain just nine points adrift of the play-offs despite their woeful defensive record.