West Ham’s Andy Irving is a player of interest for Celtic

However, there was another midfielder who made an impression for the national team against Liechtenstein, and it is one Celtic were very much linked with last summer and again in January.

West Ham’s Andy Irving is a former Hearts player, who left the club after feeling unwanted at Tynecastle and instead moved to Germany where he ended up initially at Türkgücü München in Germany’s third tier.

Irving may have initially regretted that decision as his club went out of business.

However, after a period back in Scotland and without a club, Irving switched to SK Austria Klagenfurt, where an outstanding spell in Austria, where he scored 16 goals and assisted on 14 occasions across 60 games, saw Irving catch the eye of former Hammers boss David Moyes and he ended up switching Austria for the EPL.

David Moyes has since left the club, and his replacement Julen Lopetegui apparently scuppered Celtic’s hopes of signing Irving last summer as he was impressed by him during pre-season.

Irving then saw Lopetegui sacked and replaced by Graham Potter, and once again Celtic’s interest was knocked back, with Potter keen to see the player for himself before considering sanctioning a move on loan.

Over the course of the season however Irving has only made 10 appearances for West Ham, and it may well be that West Ham would be open to an initial loan deal for Irving given the player is now 25 and hasn’t established himself beyond being a squad player under Graham Potter.

Irving is a left footed and cultured central midfielder and has the physical build and athleticism Rodgers appears to be targeting.

He can play as a number six, or further forward, but as Celtic look to succession plan for Callum McGregor, Irving could fit the bill as a rotation option initially but also a replacement as a defensive midfielder as and when Callum McGregor reduces his game-time. Have a look at this…

Monday’s international friendly with Liechtenstein saw Irving win his first full Scotland cap having previously been a good performer through the age groups with the national team. Indeed, his debut at 25 is perhaps a bit later than would have been predicted earlier in his career, but given his career path has had more than its share of pitfalls in recent years it is perhaps excusable.

Celtic have certainly shown an interest in Andy Irving over the last 12 months. Managerial changes and no doubt the players wish to try and establish himself with an EPL club, has perhaps put paid to Celtic’s interest in the last couple of transfer windows, but with a lack of game-time offered at West Ham and with an international career to consider Andy Irving has to be playing football on a regular basis.

That could mean if Celtic test the waters once again this summer, the opportunity to sign Irving may be more manageable this time around. Perhaps a loan with an option to buy would suit both West Ham and Celtic?

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