West Ham’s 22-year-old defender Sam Byram has been made a transfer target by Arsene Wenger. Gunners’s right-back Hector Bellerin has been heavily linked with a move to boyhood club FC Barcelona, and should the Spaniard depart, Byram could be roped in by the Arsenal FC boss.
According to the Mirror, Spanish giants FC Barcelona are back in the hunt for Hector Bellerin, as their long-serving right-back Dani Alves made the switch to Juventus. Bellerin, who was part of the Barca youth setup for a number of years, would fit right into the Catalan side’s brand of football. Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is fighting tooth and nail to keep the Spaniard at the club, but if he fails in his endeavor, West Ham defender Sam Byram will be eyed as his replacement.
Byram, a relatively unknown commodity, joined the Hammers at the start of this calendar year. Since then, due to injury woes, he only managed to tally a total of four appearances in as many months spent at the Boleyn Ground. His most noteworthy Premier League contribution came in his West Ham debut against Manchester City. The 22-year-old came on in the 13th minute as a replacement for Arsenal loanee Carl Jenkinson, who suffered an injury.
Sam Byram oozed confidence and class today..exciting times ahead for him, and us, without a doubt ?? #WHUFC #COYI
— Lucy Galloway (@UptonLucy) January 23, 2016
According to HITC, the West Ham right-back held his ground against the likes of Raheem Sterling and Yaya Toure, and rarely put a foot wrong. He boasted a pass accuracy rate of 74 per cent in the game, coupled by an interception and a tackle won.
Would Byram be a good signing for Wenger?
Arsene Wenger is known to be a fan of young talent, so it is no surprise to see the Gunners being linked with a move for the West Ham defender. Byram’s superior aerial prowess and his ability to read the game would certainly make him a decent signing for Arsenal.
Even if Wenger manages to keep hold of Bellerin, the English defender would prove to be an ideal backup for him. He also has the ability to play as a winger, and could be converted into an out-and-out wide man, if Wenger has his way.
Signed for a bargain of £3.7 million from Leeds United, Arsenal would have to spend nearly double the amount if they are to get their man. Investing a relatively hefty sum for a player still to find his footing in the Premier League, may seem to be a risk. While Byram has impressed, doubts still loom about his discipline on the field of play. In the four games played, the defender has picked up three bookings already, which would certainly not gel well with the Arsenal boss.
Also, with Calum Chambers warming the sidelines for the majority of this season, Wenger may choose to deploy the former Southampton defender as a right-back. Even though Chambers is a centre-back by trade, he has featured as a right sided full-back on a number of occasions.
