Everton scrap sale of Harrison Armstrong after fans protest at Bournemouth

Everton have withdrawn a proposed sale of midfielder Harrison Armstrong to Nottingham Forest after a fan backlash during Saturday's 1-1 draw at Bournemouth, the club confirmed. Armstrong has started all three of Everton's games so far this season.

Nottingham Forest submitted an offer of £40m plus a potential sell-on clause for the England Under-19 international, who is regarded as one of the brightest prospects to emerge from Finch Farm in recent years. Supporters reacted angrily when the bid became public, singing Armstrong's name throughout the match and warning there would be a "riot" if he was sold. Everton's board, led by chair Dan Friedkin, ultimately decided to reject Forest's approach, with the owner described as being at the forefront of the discussions.

Armstrong has made 24 appearances for Everton and played 87 minutes against the Cherries before he was replaced by Charly Alcaraz. The revelation that a £40m bid was under consideration prompted immediate fan unrest and contributed to the atmosphere at the Vitality Stadium.

Speaking after the game, manager David Moyes addressed supporters' anger and suggested some decisions were not solely his to make. "I think you always have to consider supporters; supporters aren't always wrong," Moyes said. "But then there are also times where I've had people at clubs who are really powerful and make difficult decisions."

Moyes added context on how managerial and club-level choices can differ in scale. "Managers have to make decisions on players sometimes and they feel like huge decisions. But there are sometimes bigger decisions to be made and the club will, I'm sure, make what they think is the right one," he said. "If I'd say something to them (the fans), I'd say their manager's an Evertonian."

The club's transfer business this window has included several arrivals and departures: Everton signed Hayden Hackney from Middlesbrough for an initial £16m and Christian Norgaard from Arsenal for £7m, while Tyrique George and Merlin Rohl completed permanent deals after loan spells last season. Brennan Johnson joined from Crystal Palace in a swap deal that sent Dwight McNeil the other way.

Moyes has expressed frustration at a lack of reinforcements and had highlighted the need for additions after the Carabao Cup second-round win against Preston on Wednesday. Talks are also ongoing and moving forward between Everton and Manchester City for Jack Grealish to return before the deadline, with another loan the most likely option at this stage, while the club have yet to sign a right-back to replace Seamus Coleman and have revived interest in Kenny Tete, who turned down the Toffees to sign a new deal at Fulham last year.

Everton's rejection of Forest's offer was reported to be unanimous from the board after a day of drama on and off the field, a decision that the club said kept Armstrong at Goodison Park. The move has been framed internally as heading off the possibility of an open revolt against owners The Friedkin Group and, according to reporting, avoided what was described as a potential PR catastrophe for the club.

Everton remain active in the transfer market, with negotiations over a potential Grealish loan and a persistent need to fill the right-back position forming the immediate next steps in the club's squad planning.