It seems only a matter of time before Essex boy Sam Byram is confirmed as West Ham’s first signing of the January transfer window. The twenty-two year old had previously agreed to join Everton but Leeds owner Massimo Cellino reportedly said: ‘I’m really sorry for Everton because they really acted like gentlemen, but Sam chose West Ham.’
Byram is a product of the Leeds academy, making over 140 appearances since debuting in 2012 but, with his current contract set to expire at the end of the season, Cellino has opted to cash in on the player with a transfer fee believed to be around £3.7m.
The Essex lad is understood to be a boyhood West Ham fan and it said this will be his dream come true. Irons Director of Recruitment ,Tony Henry is said to highly rate the lad who can either play in the right back or right winger position as they try to replicate the success the Hammers have enjoyed with Arron Cresswell from Ipswich.
Chairman’s son Jack Sullivan posted on twitter earlier “Maybe a surprise signing in the next 48 hrs” but it appears the cat is out of the bag following Cellino comments. He is understood to have agreed personal terms but he still needs to sign on the dotted line in the next 48 hours to become a Hammer.
Hope its true he is still raw with a lot of potential hopefully Dicksy and Slav can improve him and he can make that position his own.
I thought we weren’t buying in January?
It was more not buying unless something exceptional came up. Clearly for the cheap price of £3.7million plus the £2.5million income we got from Jarvos permanent move to Norwich and the huge potential Byram has, they’ve deemed this an exceptional signing.
And at least 6′ gives us more height defending corners and free kicks
Nice to get one over the toffees ! Martinez normally does it to us and other clubs in the past?
Must be a couple going out soon ! When is the C/F comming ??
He’s got a very strong northern accent and he’s going to have to work on that a bit if he wants people to keep calling him an Essex boy.
Let’s hope he is as good as Cressie,
Now Jenkinson can watch 2 right backs and Tomks can push for a place in the centre of defence,would still like us to get the young lad from Chelski on a pre agreed contract so we were strong in the future in that position,