Preston insider reveals Harrison Armstrong insight at Everton before January deal sealed
Everton starlet Harrison Armstrong attracted strong interest from Preston North End throughout the winter.
Armstrong returned to Everton on 1 January to help David Moyes after Idrissa Gueye departed Merseyside for AFCON.
There was an expectation that Armstrong would return to Preston before the end of the window once the Senegal international had returned.
Paul Heckingbottom spoke regularly about Armstrong throughout January and his hopes of getting the midfielder back at Deepdale.
A deal never materialised and Armstrong remained at the Hill Dickinson Stadium and now insight details have emerged from Preston over their transfer dealings.
Preston waited on Harrison Armstrong return
The 19-year-old has recently become a regular on Merseyside, starting weekly and putting in star performances in L4.
He was all-action in Everton’s 1-0 win away to Aston Villa, in a showcase that proved just how far he has come this campaign.
These showings have raised questions over why the Blues would ever send the midfielder back to the Championship, so it is no surprise he stuck around.
BBC Radio Lancashire reporter Andy Baynes has now revealed that Preston held out and waited as long as possible before targeting alternatives to Armstrong.
The Lilywhites eventually accepted that the Everton youngster wasn’t coming back and signed Andy Moran from Brighton.
Baynes isn’t suggesting the Republic of Ireland international comes close to the teenager, suggesting, “The one thing he isn’t is Harrison Armstrong.“
Everton have already benefitted from Armstrong spell at Preston
They say never fall in love with a loan player, but it looks like that is exactly what Heckingbottom’s side have done.
They seriously helped Armstrong to develop off the back of his previous spell at Derby County and have brought him to a place where he can feature regularly in the Premier League.
The youngster has been a consistent performer for the Toffees – shown by Sofacore – and is only going to get better.
Preston may feel hard done by after missing out on another loan agreement, but that’s the nature of the loan market.
The second-tier side will take the rough with the smooth, but it feels as if Moyes’ men have won from the arrangement.