Conor Hourihane has been in fantastic form since joining Swansea City on loan from Aston Villa last month, scoring three goals in his first five games, but the 30-year-old recently revealed that he could have been lining up for a different Championship club since late January.
The midfielder told the Irish Examiner’s A Footballer’s Life podcast: “There are a few (clubs). Bournemouth were in there and one or two others.”
Bournemouth ended up re-signing Jack Wilshere after missing out on Hourihane and find themselves three places and eight points behind Swansea in the Championship, so the Villa midfielder feels that he made the right choice.
The Republic of Ireland international also explained his decision to choose Swansea over the Cherries, saying:
Probably (for) the position in the league they’re in. They’re up there, pushing for promotion.
I spoke to the manager three or four times and it would have taken a good move and a bit of convincing to move. But speaking to him made my decision very easy.
He was fantastic over the phone and has been fantastic since I arrived. I’ve definitely made the right choice.
Hourihane has been a regular for Swansea, playing every minute of every Championship game since the move, so he’s finally getting the first team football that he wanted.
The 30-year-old has already amassed more minutes of league football for Swansea (270) than he did at Villa (228) this season, which was exactly why he requested the move in January.
Hourihane couldn’t bag himself a Premier League club but had plenty of interest in the Championship when news of his availability went public, so he opted for the side which seduced him. Swansea lost Morgan Gibbs-White in January after Wolves recalled him from his loan spell, but the Irishman has perfectly slotted in alongside Matt Grimes and Jay Fulton.
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Villa fans should be happy that Hourihane is impressing at Swansea as he was a good servant to the Midlanders over the last four years and maybe he can help Steve Cooper’s side to promotion.
The 30-year-old admitted that his future at Villa Park is unclear, but what’s far less debatable is the shrewdness of his judgement in plumping for the south Wales club for a loan spell.
