West Ham United are now set to seal a deadline day transfer for SK Austria Klagenfurt star Andy Irving as David Moyes bids to bolster his Hammers team at London Stadium.
That is according to Kronen Zeitung, with the Austrian publication reporting that Irving is set to sign for West Ham. The Irons submitted Klagenfurt an offer for the 23-year-old this Friday morning to gain his transfer. It is expected to generate the Bundesliga club a substantial fee.
Klagenfurt are in a financially precarious position, so are at risk of losing their star players for substantial sums. West Ham have moved to take advantage of their situation by targeting an eleventh-hour move for Irving. Yet he is not due to stay in east London for long once signed.
West Ham have tabled Klagenfurt a deal to buy Irving that also sees him stay at the Austrian outfit on loan. Worthersee Stadion chiefs consider the offer to be a win-win as it helps their finances greatly. While it will also keep an influential part of Peter Pacult’s plans at the team.
Klagenfurt have started the 2023/24 Austrian Bundesliga campaign with two wins and three draws to sit third in the table. Irving has started all five of their fixtures and has scored three goals plus two assists. He also started their OFB-Cup win against SK Vorwarts Steyr in July.
Who is Andy Irving and how good is he?
Andy Irving is a player for Austrian Bundesliga team, SK Austria Klagenfurt, and is a deadline day transfer target of West Ham United. He has been at the Worthersee Stadion club for the past year. Klagenfurt signed the Irons target from Turkgucu Munchen before the 22/23 term.
Turkgucu Munchen only had Irving under contract for a year, as well, after signing him from Hearts in 2021. Irving started his career in Hearts’ academy and broke through for 61 senior appearances. He also enjoyed loan spells at Berwick Rangers and Falkirk whilst in Scotland.
Irving showed a lot of promise at Hearts through his close ball control and ability to caress a shot home. But he left the Scottish side to test himself at Turkgucu Munchen in the German third tier. The move did not pay off, though, and he headed to Klagenfurt just one year later.
Now, though, Irving’s efforts in Austria have caught West Ham’s attention for a deadline day transfer from Klagenfurt. David Moyes has sought his services to add a creative presence to the London Stadium engine room. But Irving will also stay at Klagenfurt for the time being.
Robbie Nielson praised Irving for his ‘great passing ability’ whilst his manager at Hearts back in December 2020. He afforded the former Scotland U21 international 29 of his 61 games at the team. Irving also scored three and assisted eight goals under Nelson in all competitions.
Irving left Hearts with a total of five goals and 13 assists in 61 matches. Yet he only offered Turkgucu Munchen one of each through 27 games. Joining Klagenfurt helped Irving restart his record to earn a transfer to West Ham, though, with nine goals and 11 assists from 40.
Where and when was Andy Irving born?
Andy Irving was born on May 13, 2000 in Edinburgh and has represented Scotland at various youth levels. He has earned caps at the Under-17, 19 and 21 levels but has none since 2020.
What position does Andy Irving play?
West Ham United are set to sign a versatile midfielder on deadline day with a transfer for SK Austria Klagenfurt star, Andy Irving. He can play throughout the engine room after outings in deep-lying, central and attacking roles. Coaches have sporadically fielded him out wide, too.
Andy Irving’s stats at SK Austria Klagenfurt
SK Austria Klagenfurt see selling Andy Irving to West Ham on deadline day with a return loan transfer as a win-win as he has offered a creative presence through their engine room so far.
First-team, SK Austria Klagenfurt: 40 appearances, 9 goals, 11 assists