West Ham United is preparing to enter a bidding war with European clubs for Troy Parrott, a forward formerly of Tottenham Hotspur. The club aims to strengthen its attacking options before the upcoming Championship season.
Parrott, an international player for the Republic of Ireland, has also attracted interest from Ajax, Como, PSV Eindhoven, and Real Betis. However, AZ Alkmaar, his current club, is reportedly hesitant to sell to a domestic rival.
West Ham hopes that an offer in the region of £18 million will be sufficient to secure Parrott's transfer. He has experienced a resurgence in form since leaving Spurs, initially on loan to Excelsior Rotterdam, and has become a prolific scorer for AZ Alkmaar. During his three seasons in the Netherlands, Parrott has scored 68 goals in 127 appearances across all competitions, averaging a goal every 137 minutes. His record for AZ specifically stands at 51 goals in 96 games. In the Eredivisie alone, he has scored 40 goals in 81 appearances over the last three seasons. His most productive campaign was last season, with 31 goals and 12 assists in 48 matches, including a career-high 16 Eredivisie goals. He also contributed five goals in five KNVB Cup matches, including one in the final, as AZ won their first major trophy in 13 years.
AZ Alkmaar recently secured a 4-0 victory over PSV Eindhoven in the Johan Cruyff Shield, marking only their second win in the competition's history. Parrott, 24, has earned 37 caps for the Republic of Ireland, scoring six goals in his last three competitive international matches. He has demonstrated his scoring ability in high-stakes games, including crucial goals in World Cup qualifiers and a hat-trick against Hungary.
Despite West Ham's position in the Championship, Parrott is reportedly open to a return to London. The club is also actively pursuing other transfer targets. They are expected to see Niclas Fullkrug depart, with Lazio showing interest. Additionally, West Ham is working on a loan deal for winger Simon Adingra from Sunderland and plans to submit an improved bid for Celtic midfielder Arne Engels. Defender Axel Disasi from Chelsea is also a target, but faces competition from Crystal Palace, who are reportedly ready to make a bid. Cardiff defender Dylan Lawlor is another player on West Ham's radar.