West Ham United manager Nuno Espirito Santo has taken the significant decision to exclude midfielder Andy Irving from his matchday squad for this afternoon's Premier League fixture against Tottenham Hotspur in North London. The omission comes amid intensifying speculation that the 25-year-old Scottish player is on the verge of a permanent transfer away from the London Stadium.
Transfer Exit Imminent for Hammers Midfielder
The exclusion from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium clash is seen as a clear indicator that Irving's departure is now close. It is widely expected that he will complete a move to Czech First League side Sparta Prague before the January transfer window closes. This move would see him leave the Hammers ahead of the scheduled expiry of his contract at the end of the current campaign.
Reports from iSport suggest that Irving is the primary midfield target for Sparta, with 'all indications' pointing to his arrival. The player is believed to have travelled to Prague over the weekend to finalise the details of the transfer. This pursuit was hinted at earlier in the window by Sparta's sporting director, Tomas Rosicky, who stated the club's need for "one more body" in midfield following an injury to Santiago Eneme.
A Limited Role at the London Stadium
Irving's journey at West Ham has been one of limited opportunity since his arrival from Austrian side Klagenfurt in 2023 for a reported £1.5 million fee. After being loaned back to Klagenfurt for a season, he has struggled to secure a regular first-team place. This season, he has been handed a mere 157 minutes of Premier League football, with his last appearance coming in the match against Manchester United at the beginning of December.
In total, the midfielder has made only 18 appearances for West Ham, with seven of those coming during the current term. His most recent inclusion in a squad was for the FA Cup victory over Queens Park Rangers last weekend, though he remained an unused substitute. Prior to that, he had not been named in a matchday squad since December 20th.
Irving on His Fight for Minutes
Speaking to the club's official website in September, Irving opened up about the challenges of competing for game time. "It can be tough when you're maybe not getting the number of starts you desire," he admitted. "But I always believe that things can take time."
He reflected on learning from more experienced teammates, stating the environment had made him a better player. However, he acknowledged the mental difficulty, adding: "Your focus has to be on what you can control, which is by working hard and training well every day." Despite his perseverance, it now appears his future lies away from East London, with a fresh start in Prague awaiting.
This development sidelines Irving for one of West Ham's key London derbies, as Nuno Espirito Santo's side look to secure a positive result at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium without him.
