Harrison Armstrong set for busy January as double transfer move mooted at Everton
Harrison Armstrong’s successful loan spell at Preston North End may come to an abrupt end.
The 18-year-old has become a regular at Deepdale this season and is thriving under manager Paul Heckingbottom, away from Everton.
Armstrong has exceeded expectations at Preston, with North End currently sitting fifth in the table and only six points behind the automatic promotion places.
David Moyes has been frustrated in recent weeks due to the lack of options he has in certain positions, and he is seriously considering the possibility of bringing Armstrong back to L4 just for January.
Harrison Armstrong could return to Everton and then go back to Preston in January
The initial preference, both from Everton and the player, would be for Armstrong to remain at Deepdale and play a role in Preston’s ongoing promotion bid.
However, as reported by The Athletic, Everton are seriously weighing up whether to recall Armstrong due to their injury issues and players competing at AFCON.
The Toffees are keen to ensure he has regular game time, and would like to avoid a situation where he comes back to his parent club, then largely sits on the bench.
| Stat | Armstrong |
| Appearances | 15 |
| Goals | 1 |
| Assists | 1 |
| Touches in opposition box | 17 |
| Chances created | 7 |
Therefore, there is a scenario where Everton could do that, but then try to loan Armstrong back to Preston later in the month.
Moyes has already spoken to Heckingbottom about recalling the youngster, and this plan would undoubtedly suit all parties involved.
For Armstrong’s development, a taste of Premier League football could be beneficial, although disruption to his spell at Preston is far from ideal.
Carlos Alcaraz and Tyler Dibling have failed to impress when given a chance, and Armstrong could come into the team full of confidence should he return to Merseyside.
How does Armstrong fit into Moyes’ system?
Having started 11 matches this season, the Everton youngster has predominantly played on the left side of central midfield.
However, he has been an attacking outlet throughout his loan spell, and with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall facing a spell on the sidelines, Moyes may ask him to play just behind Thierno Barry.
He is also incredibly versatile, and with Idrissa Gueye competing for Senegal at AFCON, he may be asked to occasionally play in defensive midfield.
Either way, Armstrong is an incredibly powerful asset for Everton to have at their disposal, and Moyes’ plan to send him back to Preston later in January could work brilliantly.
It could be a very busy month ahead with plenty of twists to come in 2026.
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