David Moyes backed Everton supporters after the chants against a possible Harrison Armstrong sale at Bournemouth. "I think you always have to consider supporters; supporters aren't always wrong," he said, after BBC Sport reported that Nottingham Forest had put in a £40m bid for the 19-year-old. Armstrong is an England Under-19 international and has made 24 appearances for Everton.
Armstrong's place in the squad
The wider picture is not hard to read from Moyes' reaction. Armstrong has only 2 Premier League appearances this season, but he has already played 177 minutes and has 1 assist, so this is not a player being treated as a token academy name. He was also on the pitch for 87 minutes at Bournemouth before being replaced by Charly Alcaraz.
The 24 appearances for Everton and the 2 league appearances this season both matter in the background of the row, because they point to the same thing from different angles. Moyes made clear the decision is not his alone, saying: "It's not really a question for just now. It will be a club decision." He also added, "If I'd say something to them (the fans), I'd say their manager's an Evertonian."
The window and the sale pressure
Moyes was just as pointed about the timing of the market. "For all the years I've been in the Premier League this is probably the first time I've thought it was really a nonsense we're still playing games when the window is still open," he said. "It feels like we'd have been better off just getting it shut."
Travelling supporters had already chanted that there would be "a riot" if Armstrong was sold, and the transfer window is due to close on Tuesday, 1 September at 23:00 BST. That leaves Everton with a live decision on a homegrown 19-year-old who has already been used in the first team and is attracting a £40m bid. In that sense, Moyes has backed the mood in the stands, and the club still has only a few days to settle the issue.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →
