Celtic are being tipped to make a move for West Ham United full-back Sam Byram this summer. According to recent reports, the Hoops are lining up a move for the Hammers defender during this summer transfer period. The 24-year-old signed for the East London side from Leeds United in the winter of 2016 for an undisclosed fee. However, he has flattered to deceive at the London Stadium since his switch from Elland Road which has seen him struggle to feature regularly for the club.
The English right-back has just managed to make 36 appearances during his West Ham career and only featured in 10 matches last season. Some sources are now claiming that Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers is planning to seal a move for him in the coming weeks. Byram’s current deal with the Hammers is set to expire in the summer of 2020 which means that the club will be under no pressure to part ways with their prized.
However, a potential switch out of the London Stadium could do wonders for the English defender’s career as he looks to make a fresh start somewhere else in search of more first-team opportunities. The arrival of Ryan Fredericks at West Ham will likely lower Byram’s place in the Hammers pecking order under Manuel Pellegrini.
The Hoops of Glasgow managed to obtain a domestic treble last season but their performance in the Champions League left a lot to be desired. The Scottish side needs to bring in some young talents during this transfer period if they are to maintain their superiority over Steven Gerrard’s Rangers and other new challengers next season.
The addition of Byram will undoubtedly bolster Rodgers’ defensive options at Celtic Park. The Bhoys has the likes of Kieran Tierney, Mikael Lustig and Jack Hendry competing for a place in Rodgers’ starting XI. The potential acquisition of Byram will definitely improve their team and add more competition for places within the Celtic squad.
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At 24, the English talent still has his peak years ahead of him which the Bhoys could look to utilise over the next few years. However, there is also a growing concern over whether he can cope with the pressure and high expectations at Celtic Park. It remains to be seen what lies ahead in the future of Byram and whether he ends up making a switch to Parkhead in the coming months.
