Nottingham Forest have been thwarted in their attempt to sign Everton midfielder Harrison Armstrong after the Merseyside club performed a dramatic late U-turn. Everton's hierarchy, led by chairman Dan Friedkin, unanimously decided to pull out of an advanced deal worth £40 million plus a future sale clause, despite having previously accepted the offer in writing and granted Armstrong permission for a medical.
Everton's board spent much of Saturday, the day of their 1-1 draw at Bournemouth, debating whether to let Armstrong leave. The 19-year-old started that match and played 87 minutes, with supporters chanting his name throughout. His importance to Everton's long-term project as a homegrown talent and one of the club's most valuable assets ultimately swayed the decision. Armstrong is considered the most talented player to emerge from Everton's academy since Anthony Gordon six years ago and the first significant prospect since the club's financial troubles under former owner Farhad Moshiri. With the Premier League's squad cost ratio regulations putting pressure on Everton to sell, Armstrong and Iliman Ndiaye are viewed as the club's prime assets.
Forest had identified Armstrong as a player with the potential to develop into the next Elliot Anderson, following the latter's £116 million departure to Manchester City earlier this summer. The club was actively seeking to bolster its midfield options before Tuesday's transfer deadline. This setback comes as Forest sit 13th in the Premier League with one point from their opening two games, having scored two goals and conceded three. Their next challenge is a home fixture against Tottenham on September 5th, a match you can preview on our fixtures page. Manager David Moyes acknowledged the complexity of such decisions, saying, "I think you always have to consider supporters; supporters aren’t always wrong."
The Liverpudlian is an England youth international one of the country's best emerging talents. He spent the first half of last season on loan at Preston North End, making 17 Championship appearances before being recalled by Everton in January. He then featured 13 times for the Toffees, mostly as a substitute. This season, injuries to James Garner and Hayden Hackney have thrust him into the starting lineup for Everton's first three matches. Everton's staff see him as a future senior international possessing all the tools of an elite modern midfielder. His development is now a key component of the club's strategy under The Friedkin Group.
Missing out on Armstrong is a blow to Forest's recruitment drive as the window closes. The club must now assess other options or proceed with its current midfield contingent, which is already without the sidelined Ibrahim Sangare and Nicola Savona. With five points already separating them from league leaders Manchester City, every squad decision carries weight. Forest's search for midfield reinforcement continues, but they will have to look beyond a player Everton have firmly decided is not for sale.
