A transfer deal involving Celtic and West Ham is now in jeopardy after Wrexham came from nowhere with a surprise move.
West Ham’s midfield rebuild has just taken a major twist involving Celtic and Wrexham.
The Hammers have been linked with a number of Celtic stars this summer and upset Brendan Rodgers by signing young striker Daniel Cummings on a free transfer.
Daizen Maeda and Arne Engels have also been linked with the Hammers.
Wrexham have also been linked with several West Ham players since their promotion to the Championship.
West Ham, Celtic and Wrexham in new transfer link
Danny Ings, Aaron Cresswell and Michail Antonio have all been linked with moves to the ambitious Welsh outfit now owned and run by Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.
While Cresswell joined Wrexham’s Championship rivals Stoke, strike duo Ings and Antonio are still on the market as free agents since being released by West Ham.
It remains to be seen what happens with their respective futures – but now a new transfer tussle has emerged involving the Hammers, Celtic and Wrexham.
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The Scottish giants and the Irons were back on talking terms recently after Rodgers went public with his fury over Cummings choosing to continue his development in east London instead of east Glasgow.
Graham Potter greets Brendan Rodgers in their roles as Brighton and Leicester managers
Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images
Although relations were not improved when West Ham rejected a Celtic bid for midfielder Andy Irving recently.
Hammers News revealed Celtic tested the water with an opening bid for Irving of around £1.75m plus £500k in add-ons in the last week or so.
West Ham rejected the offer, demanding around £3.5m to let him go.
Celtic were widely expected to front the money with Irving a potentially fantastic signing for the Scottish Premiership favourites.
But that Celtic and West Ham deal is now in jeopardy after Wrexham came from nowhere to hijack the move.
Irving is one of a host of Hammers midfielders heading for the West Ham exit, including Guido Rodriguez and Edson Alvarez.
Celtic and West Ham deal in jeopardy as Wrexham hijack move
However, instead of a homecoming to Scotland, 25-year-old cult hero Irving could now be heading to Wales instead.
Last summer most Hammers supporters could be forgiven for forgetting they’d even signed Irving.
Now he’s a fan favourite despite barely featuring for the team.
The Scotland international was something of a dirty little secret at West Ham last summer.
Irving’s fellow Scot David Moyes was Hammers boss when the club signed him from SK Austria Klagenfurt before immediately loaning him back.
Then technical director Tim Steidten did a £1.5m deal which saw Irving join to make a feeder club partnership above board.
To this day, West Ham have never officially unveiled or announced Irving as a signing.
Andy Irving tries to tackle Granit Xhaka during West Ham's Premier League defeat to Sunderland
Photo by Ed Sykes/Sportsphoto/Allstar Via Getty Images
There was barely any mention of the Celtic target as he started pre-season under Julen Lopetegui last term.
A lack of bodies meant Irving was used in most pre-season matches. His underdog story, and some barnstorming friendly goals, saw Irving become an unlikely fan favourite.
Irving was among the goals again this pre-season under Graham Potter.
The cultured midfielder made a few cameo sub appearances last season and even started against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Potter praised Irving after he scored another pre-season goal when West Ham played Grasshoppers last month.
Irving also came on as a sub in West Ham’s opening day defeat to Sunderland.
Reynolds puts Wrexham in box seat for West Ham’s Irving
That may prove to be his last notable act in a Hammers shirt before swapping it for the red of Wrexham rather than the green and white hoops of Celtic.
West Ham’s owners revealed they are looking to sell fringe players to make way for new midfielders.
But while Celtic were expected to come back in with an improved bid, Reynolds has pounced to put Wrexham in the box seat according to journalist Pete O’Rourke.
Celtic’s rivals Rangers have also been linked with Irving but, unlike the Bhoys, the Gers have not made a bid.
That’s not to say they won’t.
But O’Rourke says Wrexham have now jumped to the head of the queue and the Championship club are hoping to convince Irving to move to Wales.
Irving is adored by his teammates at West Ham.
It is clear he will need to leave to secure regular game time, though, and especially if he wants to keep his place in the Scotland squad.