Aston Villa should look at a loan deal for West Ham defender this summer.
The words ‘crisis club’ are often wrongly attached to teams like Arsenal and Manchester United when they go through a rocky patch, perhaps even losing three games in a month.
A truer illustration can be seen in England’s second tier, with Aston Villa’s financial difficulties.
This affects the first team, and leaves little room for impressive transfer business this summer, certainly on the incoming side.
One player they could target, and have some success, is West Ham’s Sam Byram.
Byram’s future at West Ham looks bleak, after they signed two right-backs in successive summers.
While Byram provided an alternative to an ageing Pablo Zabaleta last season, new signing Ryan Fredericks is just one year older, and looks like a direct replacement.
Byram needs a move and his Premier League market will be low, so a return to the Championship where he once shone with Leeds looks smart.
Villa would not be able to buy Byram outright, but a loan deal does have some potential, and if there is not a big market for Byram then West Ham could agree to it.
The two clubs negotiated successfully for Robert Snodgrass to join on loan last year and Byram would benefit from playing regularly again in a league where he is familiar.
And if Villa were worried whether Byram would be affected by off field drama, lest forget this is a defender who shone at Massimo Cellino’s Leeds.
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