By Liam Randall

Copyright walesonline

A Premier League star has spoken out about why he turned down a transfer to Wrexham this summer. West Ham midfielder Andy Irving was reportedly targeted by the Red Dragons during the latter stages of the transfer window. A deal for the £3.5million-valued player did not materialise after the 25-year-old reportedly declined the move. Wrexham, backed by Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney , went on a £33m recruitment drive during the window following their promotion to the Championship in April. The North Wales outfit successfully brought in 13 new additions overall, though the Scotland international was one target who got away. Irving opted to remain with the Hammers despite attracting attention from Celtic and Rangers as well. He has now explained his decision to stay at the London Stadium whilst expressing his ambition to cement his place in the Premier League. “There was a lot of speculation and media [during the summer], but ultimately for me, I’m in a good place here at West Ham,” Irving said. “I really enjoy it here, so I was keen to stay and continue giving my best for the club, and I believe that I’ll have another progressive year here, and I’ll benefit a lot from it. I really enjoy the work that we put in here, and I really enjoy the role that I have within the squad on and off the pitch.” Irving was recruited by former West Ham manager and fellow countryman David Moyes from Austria Klagenfurt on transfer deadline day in September 2023. He was initially sent back on loan to the Austrian Bundesliga side, before featuring in 10 Premier League matches during the 2024/25 campaign. He has so far far been included in the squad for each of the Hammers’ opening three league fixtures this season, entering the fray twice from the substitutes’ bench. Despite the limited playing time, Irving maintains he remains optimistic about breaking into manager Graham Potter’s thinking. “It can be tough [not starting games],” he said. “I think there are periods that you go through when it can be difficult. Every day you’re going out to training with the focus on the weekend. “You’re working towards the game, and everyone wants to play. It can be tough when you’re maybe not getting the number of starts you desire, but I always believe that things can take time. “I’m in my second year now, so I feel a lot more comfortable, and I’ve got a bit more of a stand within the squad and within the environment, so I think that helps. Of course it can be difficult mentally. “But your focus has to be on what you can control, which is by working hard and training well every day, and every time you get on the pitch, whether it’s for 10 minutes, 30 minutes or starting, you can only give your best. You’ve got to take it and try and impress in that time, and I’ve tried to do that all the time since I arrived here.” Whilst Wrexham were unsuccessful in securing Irving, boss Phil Parkinson did succeed in bringing in another midfielder before the transfer window shut. Ben Sheaf arrived from Coventry City in a move understood to be valued at £6.5m. Parkinson revealed this week that he is eager to witness the 27-year-old in action, with the player potentially featuring in their upcoming Championship clash at home to QPR on Saturday. Speaking to The Leader newspaper, he said: “Ben’s a class player and I’m looking forward to working with him. He’s someone we’ve been looking at for a while and like ever, negotiations can drag out. “It wasn’t really until the Friday [before the window closed] that we felt we could start progressing the deal, but it’s a new challenge for him after being at Coventry for several years.”