Middlesbrough have joined Burnley in making a bid for Morgan Whittaker which is below Plymouth Argyle's valuation of the 24-year-old attacker, Plymouth Live understands.

An offer of £5 million plus add-ons from Boro for Whittaker has been mentioned by national football journalist Alan Nixon. Burnley made an earlier move for Argyle's 2023/24 Player of the Year but it was not close to the asking price.

Michael Carrick's Boro are currently seventh in the Championship and fighting it out for a play-off place. Their squad already includes Finn Azaz, who starred alongside Whittaker for Argyle over the first half of last season before he was recalled from his loan by Aston Villa and sold to the Teesside club.

READ MORE: Burnley boss Scott Parker wary about Miron Muslic's Plymouth Argyle

READ MORE: Time for Plymouth Argyle to sell Morgan Whittaker if price is right

Whittaker starred for the Pilgrims last term as he scored 20 goals in all competitions and was named in the Championship Team of the Year.

However, Argyle have been on a dreadful run of results since mid-October and Whittaker has only netted four times this season. The last of his goals was a typically spectacular one which clinched a shock 1-0 Emirates FA Cup win away to Premier League club Brentford on January 11.

The Pilgrims' reward for that unexpected victory is a fourth round tie against Premier League leaders Liverpool at Home Park on Sunday, February 9, which will be broadcast live on ITV1.

The winter transfer window closes at 11pm on Monday, February 3 so if Argyle were to sell Whittaker they would want it to be in time for recently-appointed head coach Miron Muslic to be able to use some of the cash towards reshaping his squad.

Argyle drew 3-3 with Boro at Home Park four days before Christmas in a game which they took the lead on three occasions. The return match at the Riverside Stadium will be on Good Friday, April 18.

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