David Moyes gave an update on Everton transfers and team news at his press conference to preview the trip to Wolves
David Moyes speaks at his Everton press conference this morning
David Moyes speaks at his Everton press conference this morning
David Moyes has confirmed Everton have a transfer dilemma over Harrison Armstrong. The promising teenage midfielder has a host of loan interest ahead of Monday's deadline.
But the 18-year-old from West Derby enhanced his chances of remaining as part of Moyes' first-team plans for the first half of the season at least after producing an excellent display in the 2-0 Carabao Cup win at home to Mansfield Town on Wednesday.
Armstrong, who enjoyed a successful loan spell with Derby County in the second half of last season, set up both of the Blues' goals and impressed throughout with his passing, movement and workrate.
And quizzed over the England youth international's immediate future, Everton boss Moyes said: "A loan is there if we want it for him.
"He played really well in midweek. He showed he's got the potential to be a future Everton player, that's for sure.
"So we've got a decision if we think we are going to give him enough games between now and January.
"You have to remember in January we've got the Africa Cup of Nations, and we'll lose players to that, so we've got that in our thought process.
"So from that point of view we're looking at Harrison to see if we can give him more game time now and keep him with us, so that's something we're looking at.
"But we were really pleased with how he played. He's coming on and he's looking a very good future Everton player."
Moyes also confirmed that Youssef Chermiti has got a "good chance" of going out on loan after the 21-year-old striker was left out of the squad to face Mansfield.
Chermiti's chances of starting in the first team have been further hampered by the arrival of Thierno Barry.
Moyes confirmed he is looking for more goals from his strikers - Beto got off the mark for the campaign when he tapped in Armstrong's cross to seal the win over Mansfield - but that frontmen such as Nick Woltemade, who was linked with a move to the Blues but is now set to sign for Newcastle United in a £69.2m deal, is currently out of the club's price range.
Everton have managed to add eight signings to their squad over the summer and Moyes, who stated he had found it challenging in the market given the number of players the club has had to bring in, has not ruled out further additions before the window shuts on Monday at 7pm.
He said: "We could do but I don't want to raise expectations all of the time. I've said throughout the summer that we will be making signings and we have done.
"Whether we get anything over the line before Monday night, I couldn't be sure of that. If we can do it great, if we can't, we'll go with what we've got."
The Blues will look to make it back-to-back Premier League victories on Saturday when they travel to Wolves (3pm).
Moyes confirmed Vitalii Mykolenko came through his comeback in midweek and gave an update on fellow left-back Adam Aznou, who has yet to make his competitive debut for the club since his summer switch from Bayern Munich.
Moyes said: "It was good that we've got him (Mykolenko) back, because we've been short in recent weeks, which was really important for us.
"Adam has still got a bit of a problem with his ankle. He's back doing some training but we just need to monitor him and see where he is."