Preston North End are hopeful of completing the loan signing of Everton starlet Harrison Armstrong today, as per Mike Keegan.
Preston North End have enjoyed a fine start to the season under Paul Heckingbottom. PNE have been touted as relegation candidates by many, but if their early form continues, those tags will soon fade.
Heckingbottom has been backed with a host of new signings this summer transfer window, and with just a matter of days left until the deadline, work is still going into new additions at Deepdale.
PNE - Preston North End home ground Deepdale
Image courtesy of: ED SYKES/REUTERS.
Among the players linked with a move to the Lancashire club has been Everton midfielder Harrison Armstrong. The teenager has not been short of admirers off the back of his fine Derby County loan, but Preston North End could be set to deal a blow to those keen.
Writing on X, reporter Mike Keegan has said that PNE are hopeful of getting a deal done for Armstrong today (Friday) as they look to see off competition for his signature.
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It comes off the back of a fine outing against Mansfield Town in the Carabao Cup, in which he set up both goals in a 2-0 win.
However, after starting the first two Premier League games on the bench, Armstrong is set to pick up action out on loan once more.
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Harrison Armstrong set for another Championship stint
Still only 18, Armstrong has been touted for a big future at Everton for some time. His impressive displays for the U18s and U21s have seen him quickly emerge in the first-team picture on Merseyside, and eight senior outings have now yielded three assists.
Having acclimatised to the senior game so well, it only makes sense for him to head out on loan once more. A stint at Preston North End will give him another opportunity to develop away from Bramley Moore Dock.
Everton midfielder Harrison Armstrong looks on
Image courtesy of: CRAIG BROUGH/REUTERS.
If his Derby County stay is anything to go off, PNE have pulled off a bit of a coup too.
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Armstrong was influential in midfield as the Rams fought off relegation from the Championship, impressing in a midfield trio alongside the all-action Ebou Adams and academy graduate Liam Thompson.
Harrison Armstrong’s Derby County loan stats – viaTransfermarkt
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Competition for places in the Preston North End midfield
Armstrong’s arrival at Preston North End will mean Heckingbottom has some solid depth in that department.
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Club captain Ben Whiteman and Ali McCann are the standout options with Stefan Thordarson, Jordan Thompson, Noah Mawene and Theo Carroll also on the books. The latter two are only young, and will ned sufficient bodies around them as they develop their games.
Armstrong will have a fight on his hands for a starting berth with Alfie Devine and Mads Frokjaer-Jensen available as more advanced options too. That competition will bring the best out of him though as he bids to kick on once more.
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