Sam Byram has reportedly chosen West Ham over Everton and is expected to sign for the Irons in the next 48 hours.

Late on Thursday it seemed our talented right sided defender/midfielder was heading to the Blue half of Merseyside when a fee, believed to be £3.7m was agreed with Everton. However Byram's expected move didn't go through and he was even in contention to play in our lunchtime showdown with Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday; Steve Evans however claimed the player had asked not to play.

It is understood that Byram passed a medical at Goodison and Everton were going to unveil him on Monday, but it looks like his head has been turned from interest down-south in West Ham. Byram, who ironically was born in nearby Essex is expected to formally join West Ham in the next 48 hours as apparently he has more chance of first-team football there.

Typically West Ham have apparently matched the £3.7m Everton were going to pay for him, so it's not as if we will get any more from the deal.

Owner Massimo Cellino praised the Merseysiders, claiming he was disappointed as they'd "acted like gentlemen" but player-power is evident here and Byram can choose his suitors or sit-tight and leave for a "compensation fee" in the summer which would be even less than the miserly £3.7m we stand to gain now.

Watch this space for further updates.

Photo: Action Images

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