David Moyes has no say on Everton transfers and one deal has alarm bells ringing - ex-EFC scout
Harrison Armstrong's proximity to leaving Everton before the transfer window closed has raised questions surrounding the relationship between David Moyes and The Friedkin Group.
That is the opinion of former senior Everton scout, Bryan King, speaking exclusively to Football Insider.
The 19-year-old was subject to a £40million bid from Nottingham Forest in the days leading up to deadline day, with the Toffees eventually pulling out after receiving huge backlash.
Fans protested in the stands as Everton drew with Bournemouth on Saturday and Moyes appeared to indicate that he did not support the potential sale.
While the move was avoided ultimately, the anger has only intensified in recent days after the window ended in truly shambolic fashion.
Everton sold Iliman Ndiaye to Manchester City and Beto to Fiorentina on deadline day, but saw their move for his replacement, Folarin Balogun, fall apart.
'Who's doing the buying and selling' at Everton?
After going relatively close to securing European qualification last season, fans expected an ambitious summer for Everton.
It started well, too, with the signings of Hayden Hackney and Brennan Johnson received positively.
Everton had a clear aim going into the summer - sign a right-back - and they would go through countless options before eventually arriving on Ainsley Maitland-Niles on deadline day.
The Balogun mess has ultimately seen Moyes end up with arguably a weaker a squad than he had before the window.
Asked by Football Insider about the Armstrong situation, King said: "It's not David Moyes' decision not to sell him. It's The Friedkin Group who have stopped the deal. So, who's doing the buying and selling here?
"This kid is obviously a favourite with the supporters," he continued. "I would have thought that would have been very good business if a club's prepared to pay £40m for him.
"It would mean you losing potentially a good young player, but it wouldn't be the first time, would it, for Everton? You know, you look back to [Wayne] Rooney. You look back to [Anthony] Gordon. You know, these are young players who've come through the ranks and have been sold for big money. So, you have another situation with Armstrong.
"It just worries me that the manager or the management team have said, 'hey, hang on a minute, this kid's a good player here. We're going to need him through the season.'"
What did David Moyes say about Armstrong's potential sale?
Armstrong may never get to the heights that are expected of him, but keeping him was about the principle for many.
The teenager was born in Liverpool and has spent the entirety of his career in the Everton academy - to sell him would be to cash in one of their own.
Asked about the deal and the reaction on Saturday, Moyes said: "I think you always have to consider supporters; supporters aren't always wrong.
"But then there are also times where I've had people at clubs who are really powerful and make difficult decisions. I'd bring into that Bryan Gray, who was at Preston North End, and Sir Philip Carter, who was at Everton when I first came in.
"Not all decisions are popular, and sometimes they have to do it for different reasons. 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. If I'd say something to them [the fans], I'd say their manager's an Evertonian."