Celtic showed 'interest' in signing Premier League man last year along with two clubs

Celtic showed ‘interest’ in signing West Ham midfielder Andy Irving last year, as detailed in a report by The Athletic. FC St. Pauli and Sturm Graz also wanted him from Austria Klagenfurt before his switch to the London Stadium.

The Edinburgh-born man emerged on the Hoops’ radar ahead of the last campaign as they hunted for new faces under Brendan Rodgers. They ended up winning the league ahead of rivals Rangers once again.

Celtic may have seen Irving, who is 24-years-old, as someone who could have bolstered their options in the middle of the park. However, it wasn’t to be in the end.

He joined West Ham before being loaned back out to Austria Klagenfurt for last season. He then linked up with the Hammers in the Premier League this past summer.

Praise for ex-Celtic target

Irving has recently been praised by Craig Levein who has said: “Andy is a determined boy. He has done the right thing, taking incremental steps rather than trying to aim right for the top. I’m delighted for him. Everybody’s story is different, but Andy’s is interesting.

“Technically, he was perhaps the best in the whole Hearts academy. He was a bit one-footed but his left foot was a wand. Technically he was always going to be good enough; my worry for Andy was his physicality and running power. He took a real stretch and for kids who do that, it takes a long time for their body to fill out. He looks like a man now. When he first got into the first team, he wasn’t really strong enough to compete with adults, so that was always the challenge for Andy. The worry was he wouldn’t be able to compete against top players in a midfield. He has obviously worked really hard.

“He was free-kick taker, corner taker, he could hit a 70-yard pass as well as Charlie Adam. He saw passes other people couldn’t see. Andy would try things that you thought were ridiculous but he had the confidence in himself to keep trying and the ability to play those passes.”

Irving rose up through the academy at Hearts and was a regular for them at various different youth levels. He had loan spells away from Tynecastle Park at Berwick Rangers and Falkirk as a youngster to get some experience under his belt.

He then went on to play 59 games for the Jambos’ first-team and chipped in with five goals. Türkgücü München then swooped to sign him in 2021 and he made the move over to Germany.

The ex-Scotland youth international spent a year in the German third tier before Austria Klagenfurt came calling. He became a hit in Austria and became a man in-demand just over 12 months ago.

Celtic were one of a few teams who looked into the possibility of landing him. West Ham won the race for his signature though and he now provides them with competition and depth in the middle of the park as he looks to nail down a regular place in their starting XI.