Football
Exclusive: West Ham Price Demands Leave Celtic Set to Miss Out on Andy Irving
Celtic may have to double their initial bid to sign West Ham's Andy Irving, as the London club is looking for £4million for the Scottish midfielder. Despite interest from another club, Celtic are yet to make a substantial move in the transfer market, frustrating fans. Irving is eager to return to Scotland for more playing time after limited appearances at West Ham.
SOCCER: AUG 03 Premier League Summer Series AFC Bournemouth vs West Ham United by Icon Sportswire | Getty Images
Celtic are set to miss out on West Ham’s Andy Irving unless they double their opening bid, according to SportsBoom sources.
SportsBoom understand the Scottish giants have had an offer in the region of £2million rejected by the Hammers.
But it is understood that the London club are looking for a fee around £4million to part with the Scottish midfielder.
West Ham are prepared to sell the player, who has been dubbed the ‘Portobello Pirlo’ by fans, if the price is right as Graham Potter looks to continue his Hammers revamp.
An unnamed club have also enquired about the availability of the player in recent days.
QUIET WINDOW
It has been a frustrating transfer window for Celtic fans, who saw German winger Nicolas Kuhn leave for Como.
Brendan Rodgers has promised “work going on behind the scenes” but the champions are yet to make a substantial move into the market.
Rodgers is believed to be a huge admirer of Irving, who came through the youth system at Hearts.
The 25-year-old has been capped at age group level and made his senior national side debut in a friendly against Liechtenstein in June.
HOMECOMING
It is understood that Irving would be interested in a move back north of the border after his Premier League dream failed to hit the high notes.
He moved to West Ham in 2023 before being loaned back to Austria Klagenfruit, where he is famed for scoring a 22-minute hat-trick.
Irving has made just one Premier League start since making the move to East London, with nine other top flight appearances off the bench.
The player is desperate for regular football as he bids to further enhance his international credentials.
Shane is an experienced sports journalist with over a decade on the front line, covering everything from football to horse racing. A familiar face in the snooker pressroom, his work regularly appears in the Daily Mirror, Daily Express, and Daily Star, alongside SportsBoom.
While snooker is where many readers know him best, cricket is his true sporting passion, though he tends to keep that side of him separate from his professional beat.
A staunch traditionalist, he’s unlikely to share your enthusiasm if you believe The Hundred is the future of Test cricket.