Nottingham Forest are making a bold move in the final stretch of the transfer window, readying a £40m offer — plus a potential sell-on clause — for Everton's highly-rated teenage midfielder Harrison Armstrong. The bid, first reported by The Athletic, signals just how seriously Nuno Espírito Santo's side are pursuing reinforcements before the deadline.
Forest eye one of Everton's brightest prospects
Armstrong, 19, has already racked up 23 first-team appearances for Everton and is firmly in the thoughts of the current coaching staff at Goodison Park. He started last weekend's 2-0 Premier League win over Crystal Palace, underlining his growing importance to the side. The England under-19 international is widely regarded as one of the more elegant midfield talents to emerge from Merseyside in recent years, and Forest clearly see something worth paying top dollar for.
Whether Everton will entertain serious discussions is another matter entirely. As things stand, there are no indications the club intend to sanction any sale. Any move to push through a deal would almost certainly provoke a fierce reaction from supporters already anxious about the club's direction this summer.
Moyes frustrated as window shapes up badly for Everton
The timing is particularly uncomfortable for manager David Moyes. After Everton's Carabao Cup second-round victory at Preston North End, Moyes was unambiguous about his desire for additional quality in the squad, urging the club's American ownership group, the Friedkin Group, to back him in the market.
The noises out of Goodison, however, have not been encouraging on that front. Everton's standout creator Iliman Ndiaye has been heavily linked with a move to Manchester City, and now Forest are circling for Armstrong. Moyes finds himself in the uncomfortable position of potentially losing key assets at precisely the moment he's pushing to add them.
Forest strengthening ahead of a pivotal period
For Forest, the ambition of a £40m move speaks to where the club believe they are heading. They have been active this summer and are not finished yet, with the top end of the squad clearly in need of creative midfield quality. Armstrong fits the profile — young, technically assured, and with the ceiling the club's recruitment team are targeting.
The sell-on clause included in the proposed package is a clever piece of structuring. It acknowledges that Everton would be selling a player with genuine upside, while still giving Forest a route to getting the deal done without inflating the headline fee further.
The market will be watching closely. If Everton blink, it would represent one of the more surprising pieces of business of the window — and a significant statement of intent from a Forest side with eyes clearly fixed on consolidating their top-half status.
Frequently asked
- How much are Nottingham Forest offering for Harrison Armstrong?
- Nottingham Forest are preparing a bid of £40m plus a potential sell-on clause for the Everton teenager, according to reports.
- How many games has Harrison Armstrong played for Everton?
- Armstrong has made 23 appearances for Everton's first team and started their 2-0 Premier League win against Crystal Palace last weekend.
- Will Everton sell Harrison Armstrong to Nottingham Forest?
- At present there are no indications Everton plan to accept any offer. Manager David Moyes has been pushing for incomings rather than sales this summer, and a deal would likely anger supporters.