Alan Irvine names player he tried to sign for West Bromwich Albion… and he’s ended up at Aston Villa

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Alan Irvine attempted to sign Aston Villa loanee Robert Snodgrass while he was West Bromwich Albion boss.

West Ham United Alan Irvine assistant coach Alan Irvine has admitted to Football.London that he attempted to sign Robert Snodgrass, while he was at West Bromwich Albion.

Irvine was in charge at West Brom in 2014, and he was keen to bring in Snodgrass, but was unable to get a deal over the line.

Snodgrass has now wound up at Aston Villa, after being loaned out to Steve Bruce’s side by Irvine’s current club, West Ham.

Slaven Bilic decided that Snodgrass was surplus to requirements at the London Stadium, and allowed that winger to move out on loan to Villa.

However, recent reports have suggested that West Ham want to bring the Scottish international back from his loan spell at Villa Park.

And Irvine said: “I don’t think so. I believe that he is there for the year, I don’t know what the arrangement was, I am not aware of any opportunity for us to recall him. He is doing really well, I saw a but of him at the weekend and the quality he has and funny enough, he’s a player I tried to sign at West Brom but didn’t get to him.

“But I don’t think that we can call him back.”

Snodgrass struggled during his first six months at West Ham last season, with the wide-man rarely managing to look up to scratch.

Since joining Villa, though, Snodgrass has managed to get back to his best – and he has contributed a sizeable amount of goals and assists for Bruce’s side at Championship level.