Cooper’s current contract expires in 2024 when he is 24, so everyday nearer his transfer value is going down.
Other Clubs can let Argyle continue his development for the next 30 months and then offer him a very lucrative contract in 2024 should he have progressed and not pay Argyle anything.
You are wrongly assuming that Argyle would not offer another contract before the current one expires. Do you really believe that would happen?
If you are alleging that Cooper would reject it for a higher paying contract with another club, then money will not be his priority at this moment in time.
His playing experience in the first team will be the priority and any move upwards would not guarantee him a first team place, and may even slow his progress as an understudy.
His transfer value will increase with every game that he plays for Argyle, regardless of length of contract remaining, and providing that Argyle continue to progress forward his future should be playing in our first team, not sitting on a bench at a bigger club.
If we are successful in reaching the Championship, then Cooper will be able to continue his progression with us. If not, then we might get to the position of holding him back and we should then allow him to leave to progress his career at a bigger club.
Cooper has the opportunity to go as far as his talent will take him, providing he continues to gain experience and play first team (mens) football. No bigger club will guarantee him that, especially if we get promoted in the near future, but Argyle have set out their stall and he is correct in viewing his future with us until such time that he outgrows us and we begin to hold him back, which will then be the time for him to move on to a bigger club where he will have better opportunity to showcase his skills at a higher level.