Everton transfer news hands Preston North End fresh Harrison Armstrong hope | OneFootball

Preston North End might be able to sign Harrison Armstrong on loan from Everton once again

Everton youngster Harrison Armstrong excelled while on loan with Preston North End during the 2025/26 season, and the Lancashire outfit would love to have his services once again next term.

The midfielder was recalled by the Toffees in January and finished the campaign with 13 Premier League appearances to his name.

Armstrong had featured in 17 Championship games for North End, notching one goal and one assist in the process, and helped the Lancashire outfit establish play-off credentials.

However, Preston ultimately finished 14th in the second tier amid poor form in the second half of the season, and Armstrong's exit contributed to their slide down the table.

Everton transfer news will move Harrison Armstrong down the pecking order - Preston North End must pounce

North End are keen to have a strong midfield next term, with Paul Heckingbottom eager to lead the Deepdale club to as strong a season as possible.

The Lilywhites know that finishing seventh or eighth next season will see them compete in the play-offs, bolstering their outside chance of winning promotion to the Premier League.

With strengthening their midfield options in mind, Preston have activated their option to buy Alfie Devine permanently for a fee worth over £5million, as reported by the Lancashire Post.

Devine enjoyed a very successful loan spell with Heckingbottom's side in 2025/26, while Wolverhampton Wanderers and Celtic are also keen on the Tottenham Hotspur starlet, who can decide on his next destination.

Meanwhile, as revealed by The Athletic's David Ornstein on X, Everton are leading the race to sign Middlesbrough star Hayden Hackney, who won the Championship Player of the Season award.

Boro's failure to win promotion to the Premier League has left them with very little chance of retaining the midfield ace, which is a scenario the Toffees now appear set to capitalise on.

If Everton successfully land their move for Hackney, it would move Armstrong down David Moyes' pecking order, meaning that Preston could push for another loan deal.

Armstrong is a versatile player who can operate in a deeper midfield role as well as on the wing, but Moyes has talented options to choose from in all the 19-year-old's potential positions, including Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Carlos Alcaraz, and James Garner.

Should the Toffees sign Hackney, the former Preston loan star would have more competition in his primary position and would likely have to leave the Hill Dickinson Stadium for regular game time.

Preston can enjoy huge transfer success if they land Alfie Devine and Harrison Armstrong moves

Devine notched eight goals and six assists while on loan in the Championship with Preston, and it is no surprise that the Lancashire outfit are prepared to smash their transfer record to acquire his permanent services.

He demonstrated his creative edge when he notched two assists in North End's 3-2 triumph at Sheffield United on 25 April.

Signing the 21-year-old permanently, amid rival interest from Wolves and Celtic, would mark a very strong start to the summer transfer window for Heckingbottom.

If North End also sign Armstrong on loan from Everton once again, it would give them one of the best midfield duos in the second tier, boosting their play-off chances.

As aforementioned, the possibility of landing a further loan move for Armstrong becomes significantly stronger if Hackney agrees terms with Moyes' side.