Why Everton could still be open to selling Harrison Armstrong

Everton fans made their voices heard on Harrison Armstrong during the summer transfer window.

The academy graduate and local boy is proving a popular figure with the Everton fanbase.

But there was a huge stir caused by Everton's decision makers involving the 19-year-old midfielder in the transfer window.

At one stage, it was reported that a deal had been agreed to sell Armstrong to Premier League rivals Nottingham Forest in a £40million deal.

However, the plug was ultimately pulled amid huge backlash from the Toffees supporters.

Everton's thinking behind the potential deal has now been explained, but it does lead to another question.

Everton thinking on Harrison Armstrong explained

It was never going to be a popular decision to agree a deal to sell Armstrong.

Football fans always want to see one of their own flourish at their club, and Armstrong has an extremely high ceiling at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Everton's transfer window, particularly the end of it, was rightly chastised by supporters given they ended in a position where the squad had just one senior striker and no expert back-up at full-back.

Things would have been infinitely worse had they gone through with the idea to cash in on Armstrong, who has started the season well.

Football business writer and lecturer Dave Powell spoke on the Blue Room podcast to explain that Everton might have viewed his sale as a chance to make "marquee" signings.

"I think if Everton are going to challenge, they're going to need more of these kind of bigger marquee players," he said.

"And maybe if they feel there was the ability to recoup some profit, healthy profit to aid their ability to spend, then selling the likes of Harrison Armstrong and potentially Jake O'Brien they may have been open to."

Could this happen again with Harrison Armstrong?

Common sense prevailed in the summer when Everton rowed back on their decision to sell Armstrong.

But it feels inevitable that this scenario could happen again, and if Everton are going be looking for more "marquee" transfers then the likes of Harrison are primed for a sale to raise funds.

It is just a mark of modern football that clubs feel the best way to operate is to sell their home-grown products.

Selling Harrison at this juncture would have been extremely short-sighted, especially given the eye-watering sums central midfielders were being sold for this summer.

Sadly, though, it feels like it could just be delaying the inevitable and Armstrong will eventually depart.