Snodgrass says West Ham didn’t let him stay in Premier League last summer

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Robert Snodgrass joined Aston Villa on a season-long loan deal from West Ham United in the summer of 2017.

Aston Villa winger Robert Snodgrass has told The Express that West Ham United owners did not let him go on loan to a club in the Premier League in the summer of 2017.

Snodgrass joined Championship side Villa on a season-long loan deal from Premier League outfit West Ham in the summer of 2017.

The 30-year-old former Leeds United and Norwich City winger moved to the Hammers from Hull City in January 2017 for a transfer fee reported by BBC Sport to be worth £10.2 million.

The Scotland international star, who earns £40,000 per week as salary according to The Daily Star, has revealed that it was not a straightforward decision for him to move to Villa last summer.

Snodgrass told The Express: “I came on loan to Aston Villa to be part of something special, to try and help them get back into the Premier League.

“I can’t say it was a straightforward decision, though, because I had a situation where I could only go on loan to a Championship club. The owners at West Ham wouldn’t let me go to a Premier League club.

“There were four or five Championship clubs interested and Aston Villa were 16th or 17th at the time, so it looked as if it would be tough for them to get promotion.

“But I assessed it and thought: ‘If there’s one team that could kick on, it will probably be them.’ And I knew most of the staff here which was a big factor.”

Future at Aston Villa?

Snodgrass has been a huge success at Villa, as the former Leeds star has played a key role in the Villans reaching the Championship playoff final.

If the Villans get promoted to the Premier League for the 2018-19 campaign, then Steve Bruce’s side should sign the 30-year-old on a permanent contract.