There were plenty of positive signs when Sam Byram joined West Ham from Leeds United, pointing towards him eventually being the Hammers’ first choice right back for years to come.
However, that vision hasn’t come to fruition and now at 25-years-old he is becoming a forgotten man at West Ham.
Byram made 13 starts and five substitute appearances in his first full season with the Hammers, but only started twice and came on three times in 2017/18.
He then went out on loan to Nottingham Forest last season, but missed a large chunk of the campaign due to a serious knee injury.
This limited the number of games he played to eight in all competitions, which will have been bitterly disappointing for both him and Forest.
He has returned to West Ham for now, but finds himself behind Ryan Fredericks, Pablo Zabaleta and possibly 19-year-old Ben Johnson in the pecking order.
With this in mind, it is probably best for both player and club if Byram is sold, which West Ham are looking to do, according to ExWHUEmployee.
Despite his injury, Nottingham Forest are keen on taking Sam Byram to the City Ground on a permanent basis, according to football.london.
While the Hammers may not get the fee they would like from them, it could be in the best interests of everyone involved to get a deal done and move on.
Byram’s career has faltered significantly at West Ham and while it is always a shame to see a once-promising player leave, it is not worth keeping him around – especially when the competition he faces is considered.
He has faded into the background at West Ham and become a forgotten man, and he deserves to go somewhere he will be able to break into the team and start getting recognition from fans once again.