Everton have pulled out of talks with Nottingham Forest over the sale of Harrison Armstrong. Forest had made an offer for the England youth international and were advancing towards a deal as of Saturday. But the Blues have withdrawn from talks following widespread outrage among the fanbase at the prospect of losing one of the club's most promising players.
Fan protests decisive
The fate of Armstrong overshadowed Everton's draw at Bournemouth on Saturday as the travelling fans expressed fury at the potential loss of the 19-year-old. They started and ended the match chanting: “Don't sell Armstrong, Harrison Armstrong, I just don't think you understand. If you sell Armstrong, Harrison Armstrong, you're gonna have a riot on your hands.” Chief executive, Angus Kinnear, was present at the Vitality Stadium amid the protests.
That intervention from supporters appears to have been decisive in preventing the sale of the starlet, who has risen through the ranks at Finch Farm to become a first-team player. He has started all three games this season and was voted man of the match by supporters following his role in the 1-1 draw on the south coast.
Moyes under pressure
Armstrong's future remained uncertain in the aftermath of the game. David Moyes cut a disconsolate figure as he responded to questions about the potential loss of key players before the transfer deadline on Tuesday night. His belief is that influential figures, including Iliman Ndiaye, who was the subject of interest from Manchester City and may yet be the focus of an approach by Tottenham Hotspur, should be kept at the club and that additions are required - particularly if the team is to have any chance of matching the ambitions set out publicly by Kinnear on the eve of the campaign.
Kinnear said the expectation was for Everton to challenge for Europe and the domestic cups but those goals have not yet been matched by intent in the transfer market, where teams with similar desires such as Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur have spent extraordinary sums. Asked whether he had a message for supporters amid the increasingly complex position he finds himself in, Moyes told the ECHO: “I would say: Their manager is an Evertonian.”
Damaging episode for owners
While news Everton had called off the deal - with the Telegraph reporting a £35m bid had been accepted by the club before the fan sentiment became clear - was met with relief, it has still been a damaging episode for the Friedkin Group.
The owners made providing a pathway for homegrown talent to the first team a major strand of their vision for the club when they took over in December 2024 and a sale of Armstrong would have been a stark contrast to that approach. That the club was willing to advance towards a deal will raise major questions about TFG's ownership, their ambitions for the club and their failure to gain more of an understanding of the fanbase since their takeover.
