West Ham appear to have pipped Everton to the signing of highly-rated Leeds United star Sam Byram, as reported by Sky Sports.
It looked as if the Toffees were going to wrap up a deal for the 22-year-old right-back earlier this week, before West Ham entered the running for his services.
The very well connected @ExWHUemployee claimed earlier this week that we were hoping to make a move for Byram in the summer when his Elland Road contract expired, but Everton’s interested ultimately forced us to move quickly this month.
There have been different reports surrounding the details of the deal, with the likes of the London Evening Standard claiming West Ham are prepared to loan Byram back to the club as part of the deal, while @ExWHUemployee claims there is no loan option and the two clubs are reached an agreement that will see Byram join the club immediately.
Sky Sports quote Leeds president Massimo Cellino as saying: “I’m really sorry for Everton because they action like gentlemen, but Sam chose West Ham.”
In a report by the Yorkshire Evening Post, it is claimed Byram’s decision to snub a move to Everton in favour of West Ham will cost Leeds £1.3m in add-ons, which Everton had agreed to pay alongside of the £3.7m bid they had accepted.
The same report claims West Ham have offered Leeds the same transfer fee but without any add-ons.
Phil Hay, a reporter for the Yorkshire Evening Post, tweeted earlier that Byram was “heading down to West Ham”, presumably to finalise personal terms.
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