“Attracted Interest” | West Ham Fan Favorite Almost Departed on Deadline Day
West Ham Fan Favorite Nearly Departed on Deadline Day Amid Interest from Multiple Clubs.
It’s rare for a youth player to be signed without any formal announcement these days, so for a first-team player to join without a word from the club for an entire year is almost unheard of. Yet, that’s exactly what happened with Andy Irving.
The Scotsman joined West Ham last summer from SK Austria Klagenfurt but was immediately loaned back to the Austrian club.
Although he hasn’t yet played a professional game for West Ham, Irving has already become something of a fan favorite.
His impressive preseason performances made him a genuine contender for Premier League football.
While he hasn’t made his debut yet, it’s clear that Julen Lopetegui sees him as part of his plans.
According to The Athletic, West Ham rejected multiple offers for Irving in the lead-up to the transfer deadline.
The report states, “Andy Irving had interest from Celtic, St Pauli, and Sturm Graz in the week leading up to deadline day.
But Steidten and Lopetegui wanted to keep Irving for squad depth, and the 24-year-old midfielder decided to stay.”
Hopefully, we’ll get to see what Irving is capable of soon.
Every player deserves a chance to prove themselves, but without European football, it might take an injury crisis for him to get that opportunity.
