Ex-Bristol Rovers pair set for reunion as 10-goal star ‘agrees’ Plymouth Argyle move

Plymouth Argyle are closing in on the season-long loan signing of Josh Coburn from Middlesbrough, according to reports.

Football Insider claims that Coburn has 'agreed' to join the Pilgrims on loan. He was made available for transfer, providing Boro would find a replacement, and the move should go through shortly ahead of next Friday's deadline.

Several clubs had made enquiries about signing him, but it is Plymouth who have won the race, and Steven Schumacher revealed earlier this week that a deal was in the pipeline for an unnamed player, expected to be Coburn.

He said to DevonLive: ‘I think everyone knows I'm not going to give names away, and whatever, but as you would imagine we have got something lined up, a deal in place.

‘We are just waiting for the pieces to fall into place and then he will be here. Until then we have to be patient.

‘We have got the player we wanted, a deal agreed if you like between the clubs so as soon as the opportunity is available to come then he will be here.’

The 20-year-old was at Bristol Rovers last season, and earned the nickname 'Teesside Haaland' amongst his teammates. He got 10 goals in 39 matches in the blue and white quarters last season, and has now been loaned out to a Championship club, in the hope of proving himself to Middlesbrough.

Upon his return to the Riverside Stadium, he signed a new four-year contract with Boro, which would take him up until the end of the 2026/27 season. He had hoped after penning new terms to make a breakthrough into the Middlesbrough first-team, having suffered an injury last year which prompted him to spend last year with Rovers, to help him rebuild his confidence and his robustness.

His imminent arrival at Home Park, will see him reunite with fellow Rovers loanee Lewis Gibson, who joined them earlier this summer after rejecting a new contract at Everton. Coburn and Gibson played in 28 matches together, and were on the team in 11 of those matches.

Gibson has settled in well at Plymouth, and has started and completed all three of their league matches this season. He was named man-of-the-match in Plymouth's goalless draw with Watford a fortnight ago.