"Supporters aren't always wrong" was David Moyes' reaction to Everton fans voicing their opposition to the potential sale of teenage midfielder Harrison Armstrong during the 1-1 draw at Bournemouth.
BBC Sport reported earlier on Saturday that Nottingham Forest had put in a £40m bid for the England Under-19 international, who is regarded as one of the brightest prospects to emerge from Finch Farm in recent years.
The 19-year-old started at Vitality Stadium as the Toffees rescued a late draw and their travelling supporters repeatedly chanted that there would be "a riot" if Armstrong was sold.
"I think you always have to consider supporters; supporters aren't always wrong," said Everton manager Moyes.
"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."
Armstrong has made 24 appearances for Everton and played 87 minutes against the Cherries before he was replaced by Charly Alcaraz.
Moyes has been frustrated by the club's lack of signings and he made it clear he wanted reinforcements after the Carabao Cup second-round win against Preston on Wednesday.
The Toffees have been searching for a replacement for right-back Seamus Coleman for more than a year.
Moyes stressed any decision about Armstrong's future would ultimately rest with Everton, owned by The Friedkin Group.
"It's not really a question for just now. It will be a club decision," he said.
Speaking to Sky Sports, the Scot also questioned whether the summer transfer window should remain open once the season has started.
"For all the years I've been in the Premier League this is probably the first time I've thought it was really a nonsense we're still playing games when the window is still open," said Moyes, who is in the final year of his Everton contract.
"It feels like we'd have been better off just getting it shut.
"Maybe it's just the way I am at the moment, I might feel better on Tuesday, but just at the moment it just leaves too much open, too much talk, mainly from the media.
"If I look back over the years, back to Wayne Rooney, Mikel Arteta, Joleon Lescott, players at Everton I didn't want to lose, more recently Declan Rice at West Ham, sometimes it's part of the journey and you have to rebuild."
The window for the Premier League and EFL clubs to make new signings is to close on Tuesday, 1 September at 23:00 BST.
The Friedkin Group (TFG), Everton's American owners, will be risking the fury of their own fanbase should they agree to the sale of Armstrong to Nottingham Forest.
The notion that Everton could even consider parting with Armstrong sparked an instant reaction of disbelief and anger among supporters, with the teenager regarded as their brightest home-grown prospect for years and a big hope for the future.
As yet, there are no indications that Everton will accept an offer, but Forest's interest is real, although it would be a real coup should they pull it off.
It would also send out worrying signals about the scale of TFG's ambitions.
Manager Moyes has been frustrated by the club's lack of incoming transfer activity this summer.
Moyes made it abundantly clear after Wednesday's 4-0 win at Championship side Preston in the Carabao Cup that he wanted reinforcements.
His hope was that TFG would provide backing for further arrivals.
Since then, however, Everton's main creator Iliman Ndiaye has been heavily linked with Manchester City, and now Forest are ready to test their resolve over Armstrong.
How Moyes would view, or indeed explain, such a sale, would be intriguing. It would appear totally at odds with his stated intention of building a better squad.
And while Everton and their support may have to accept their prize assets being spirited away by clubs such as Manchester City, the idea that their most promising young player could be taken away by Nottingham Forest – a club they would be expecting to challenge or even surpass – may be harder to stomach.
That is why the manner in which Everton handle Forest's approach for Armstrong, who has already excelled this season, may be a defining moment for TFG and Moyes.
