Sam Byram my get one last chance in the form of a season-long loan to a Championship side this coming season.
Byram has found himself way down the right-back pecking order after Ryan Fredericks joined on a free transfer this summer and Pablo Zabaleta had a great season for the Hammers last term.
The defender left Elland Road in 2016 for a fee worth £3.8m, but looked likely to be sold this summer.
Originally signed by Slaven Bilic, he made only four appearances for the Hammers in his first season. After making 22 appearances for the club in the league and in Europe in his second, injury restricted him to only 10 games over the course of the campaign under both Bilic and David Moyes.
With no bids received for Byram so far, it now appears there has been a change of strategy with a season-long loan a more viable prospect. Nottingham Forrest are said to the front runners but other Championship clubs could yet get come in for him.
With Zabaleta’s contract due to expire at the end of next season, a solid season and injury free in the Championship could see a return for the right back.
The right decision to give him a loan. He has been unfairly critisized, considering he was supposed to spend a season on loan when he joined us. He was not ready yet for the Prem.
I think he will come back a much more mature player, and either take over from Zableta as one of our 2 right-backs, or be sold at a higher fee. Good buisness.
To be honest I think we should sell to put some money back in the transfer kitty.
I would agree but we got him for around £3 million and he aint done much, so what would we get for him.
Have to agree with Fishes on this one. For the amount we’ve paid, and the glimpses of potential we’ve seen, it’s worth hanging onto him. As he won’t be in our first team squad, it frees up a slot and also some or all of his wages. I have no doubt he will excel at the right club like Forest or Villa and come back a stronger prospect.