Former Swansea City striker Morgan Whittaker 'did not show up' for Plymouth Argyle's match against Burnley, according to manager Miron Muslic, fanning the flames of a transfer exit this month.

Whittaker, who left Swansea for Home Park in the summer of 2023, was not in the Pilgrims' squad on Wednesday evening as they were hammered 5-0 by the Clarets. Sign up to our Swansea City newsletter here.

Burnley and Middlesbrough are leading the chase for the striker's signature this month, who watched the game from the stands, according to our colleagues at PlymouthLive.

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With the Championship high-flying duo said to have placed bids for the 24-year-old, his time on the south coast appears to be coming to an end.

Asked about the absence of Whittaker, Muslic said in his post-match press conference: "We need players who really want to play for Argyle so we can always count on them, and we need players who are ready to give everything. I know he's a target and linked with transfers I think from summer on, let's see.

"He was in the selection (against Burnley) and he was not there. 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 that's our only chance."

Muslic added: "Morgan is an Argyle player under contract here as long as nobody are paying the money we as an organisation demand, and paying his value. He's an Argyle player and he has responsibilities and obligations towards Argyle. Like I said, that's one of the reasons Argyle is struggling for the last months.

"Morgan didn't show up. We had a game today and he was in the selection and he was not there, and that's everything I have to say on Morgan."

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Whittaker joined Argyle for a club-record transfer fee of £1million from the Swans and he has been a big hit for the Green Army. He has scored 33 goals in 90 starts and 17 substitute appearances for the Pilgrims.

Our colleagues on the south coast report that Boro are favourites for his signature and that Swansea are entitled to a "sizeable sell-on for Whittaker, so whatever fee Argyle do get for him they will have to pass on a significant amount of it to their Championship rivals".

That is good news - should a deal happen - for Luke Williams and Swansea chairman Andy Coleman who are keen to bolster the club's squad before the end of the winter window. Swansea are also set to benefit from Kyle Joseph's move from Blackpool to Hull City, with another sell-on clause included in his Swans exit deal.