Everton Halts Transfer of Midfielder Harrison Armstrong After Fan Outcry
Everton have decided to abandon a proposed deal to sell midfielder Harrison Armstrong to Nottingham Forest after receiving significant backlash from the club’s supporters.
Nottingham Forest submitted a bid of £40 million, which included a potential sell-on clause, for the talented England Under-19 international. Armstrong is viewed as one of the most promising prospects to emerge from Finch Farm in recent years.
The prospect of his transfer provoked anger among Everton fans, who vocally supported Armstrong during Saturday’s draw at Bournemouth, with some even threatening a “riot” should he be sold.
In response to the uproar, the Everton board has unanimously agreed to keep the 19-year-old at Hill Dickinson Stadium.
So far, Armstrong has made 24 appearances for Everton, including an 87-minute stint against Bournemouth before being substituted by Charly Alcaraz.
After the match, Everton’s manager David Moyes acknowledged the frustration among the fans and implied that the final decision on the transfer was beyond his control. He stated, “I think you always have to consider supporters; supporters aren’t always wrong.”
Moyes added, “But then there are also times where I’ve had people at clubs who are really powerful and make difficult decisions. Managers have to make decisions on players sometimes and they feel like huge decisions. But there are sometimes bigger decisions to be made and the club will, I’m sure, make what they think is the right one. If I’d say something to them (the fans), I’d say their manager’s an Evertonian.”
More updates on the situation are expected to follow.
Everton have called off a proposed deal to sell midfielder Harrison Armstrong to Nottingham Forest following a backlash from the club’s supporters.
Forest made a bid of £40m plus a potential sell-on clause for the England Under-19 international, who is regarded as one of the brightest prospects to emerge from Finch Farm in recent years.
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The news enraged Everton supporters, who sang Armstrong’s name throughout Saturday’s draw at Bournemouth and said there would be a “riot” if he was sold.
The Toffees board have now unanimously decided that the 19-year-old will remain at Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Armstrong has made 24 appearances for Everton and played 87 minutes against the Cherries before he was replaced by Charly Alcaraz.
Speaking after the game Toffees boss David Moyes said he understood the fans’ frustration and appeared to suggest the decision was out of his hands.
“I think you always have to consider supporters; supporters aren’t always wrong,” Moyes.
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“But then there are also times where I’ve had people at clubs who are really powerful and make difficult decisions.
“Managers have to make decisions on players sometimes and they feel like huge decisions. But there are sometimes bigger decisions to be made and the club will, I’m sure, make what they think is the right one.
“If I’d say something to them (the fans), I’d say their manager’s an Evertonian.”
More to follow.
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