Latest reports claim that Nottingham Forest are plotting a transfer for out-of-favour West Ham United fullback, Sam Byram. Manuel Pellegrini is ready to offload the 24-year-old in search of more able replacements. The Foresters are looking for an Eric Lichaj replacement, who has joined Hull City ahead of the 2018/19 season.
Sam Byram has struck out at East London ever since he made his move permanent from Leeds United in January 2016. The Englishman has failed to justify the £3.7m price the Hammers paid for him and has mostly been a misfit in the Premier League.
He made 10 senior team appearances this past season and is currently a surplus to Pellegrini’s need. Byram’s total involvement for the Hammers has been for 36 games over the past two and a half years during which he delivered 2 assists.
The 24-year-old has all the makes of becoming a top player in the English game but somehow could not fulfil all the early promise he showed in the Leeds youth ranks. He joined the West Yorkshire club when he was still in school and was one of the only 5 youth players to be awarded a contract after the 2011/12 season.
Granted offensive input is not exactly the primary requirement for his position but the Englishman has really struggled to come alive in any part of the pitch. With great disappointment, United might have to part ways with the player in order to better implement their ambitious plans.
David Sullivan has given in to the roars of the Hammers faithful who very passionately demonstrated their dissatisfaction with the club last season. Now, the club has hired a Premier League winning manager and has already made three signings in Issa Diop, Lukasz Fabianski and Ryan Fredericks.
The latter will fill in from the right and Pellegrini also has been reunited with his former defensive ace, Pablo Zabaleta at the London Stadium. The Reds, on the other hand, need defensive reinforcements to make a run for promotion next term.
Aitor Karanka is already close to announcing a loan deal for Costel Pantilimon from Watford. Byram, who has made 143 appearances for Leeds is not short of experience in the Championship and will be offered a prominent role at City Ground.
Maybe this is the shot he needed to resurrect his dying career and all parties can benefit from the transfer. Pellegrini will able to reinvest the fee in improved prospects on other ends of the pitch.
