The cash-conscious New York Red Bulls were looking to make a big splash for Premier League midfielder James McClean.

The Irish winger recently signed with West Brom of the English Premier League, but he tells the Daily Mail that he traveled to the United States to speak to the Red Bulls, ultimately rejecting a “very attractive contract” to further pursue his career in the Premier League.

That news dovetails with information from league sources telling EoS the New York Red Bulls were ready to offer McClean a Designated Player contract.

McLean signed with The Baggies for £1.5m a season ($2.3 million); a respectable Premier League wage but certainly an eye-popping number in terms of MLS players. The Red Bulls currently do not have any player on their roster making seven figures, with Bradley Wright-Phillips being the club’s top earner at $660k. With a comparable salary to West Brom’s offer, McClean would instantly become New York’s highest paid player — by a long shot.

But why McClean? Simply put, the new Red Bulls’ regime have a different standard for spending Designated Player money. While big names at the twilight of their career were the norm for the organization since the DP rule came into effect, the current regime is focusing their potential spending on young, talented players — not necessarily world stars.

McClean certainly fits that bill. The 26-year-old is going into his sixth Premier League season, starring for Sunderland, Wigan and now, West Brom. He has also been a fixture for the Republic of Ireland since 2012, appearing in 27 matches for the team.