Blackburn Rovers & Wrexham join Preston North End & Derby County in Everton, Harrison Armstrong transfer hunt | OneFootball

Four Championship clubs are in the hunt for a top Everton starlet

Blackburn Rovers and Wrexham have joined the ever-increasing transfer battle to sign Everton star Harrison Armstrong on loan.

Rovers are looking for reinforcements ahead of Monday's deadline. Valerien Ismael’s men suffered their third league defeat in four games after Norwich bested them 2-0 at Ewood Park, with a repeat of their 2024/25 play-off push already looking unlikely based on early evidence.

Wrexham meanwhile built on their EFL Cup victory away at Preston North End to beat an in-form Millwall side 2-0, which will give the Welsh outfit great confidence heading into the rest of the season - and they have added another midfielder to their list of transfer targets.

Blackburn Rovers and Wrexham join Preston North End & Derby County Harrison Armstrong transfer charge

Armstrong has been a hot topic of conversation during the final few stages of the summer window, as it was revealed by The Daily Mail's Mike Keegan on Friday that Preston North End were confident of securing the teenager’s services on loan after he starred in the Toffees' EFL Cup success over Mansfield Town.

It had been reported by journalist Alan Nixon earlier in August that Derby County wanted to bring Armstrong back after his successful temporary stay last term, but it was claimed that David Moyes was considering sending him to his former club Preston to bolster Paul Heckingbottom's midfield options.

Nixon has released a fresh update on the situation via his Patreon page, which stated that Blackburn Rovers and Wrexham are also now fighting to sign Armstrong on loan, but PNE still sit in pole position to get a deal done.

David Moyes is believed to be a huge admirer of the young talent and is debating whether loaning him out is the correct decision for his development.

A compromise may be reached in the form of a loan move until the end of December, when another decision can be made on how Armstrong can be utilised by the Toffees - especially with Idrissa Gana Gueye set to go to the African Cup of Nations with Senegal.

A short-term Harrison Armstrong loan deal may put off potential suitors

During his loan spell with Derby County last term, Armstrong proved himself to be a greatly talented operator who is more than capable of playing in the Championship.

His tender age means that there is plenty of room for improvement, but the natural talent he possesses makes the midfielder an enticing prospect for Championship clubs to harness this term.

However, if Preston, Derby, Wrexham or Blackburn do strike a deal for the 18-year-old, he could become an important component in their squads come the January window.

If Everton decide that they don’t want to let Armstrong leave again come the halfway point in the 2025/26 campaign, it could have severe consequences for whichever team has become reliant on his services.