Premier League links with Troy Parrott, the Republic of Ireland’s World Cup hero, were about as inevitable as West Ham United spending their hard-earned funds on a goal-shy centre-forward.
So should the one-time Tottenham Hotspur starlet become the latest striker to arrive, following in the footsteps of Niclas Fullkrug, Sebastien Haller, Simone Zaza, Albian Ajeti and more, it goes without saying that he will be desperate to break that supposed West Ham United curse.
While Nuno Espirito Santo again insisted that Niclas Fullkrug remains part of the Hammers’ plans, behind the scenes the feeling is that the German is no longer part of the ‘project’ in East London.
And the list of reported replacements is growing by the day.
From the ‘Premier League proven’ such as Ivan Toney and Chris Wood to lesser-known up-and-comers such as Kaio Jorge, Endrick and Franculino Dju.
Of course, not all of the names mentioned in the media are genuine targets. Hammers News heard back in October that Toney is in no rush to leave Saudi Arabia, although that stance may soften with a World Cup spot hanging in the balance.
Speaking of the World Cup, AZ Alkmaar sensation Troy Parrott ensured that the Republic of Ireland will have a part to play in the play-offs come the spring.
But when it comes to a Premier League return for a man who made only two appearances in the competition for Spurs under Jose Mourinho, reporter Ben Jacobs feels that West Ham are in the queue, although not at the front.
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Ben Jacobs explains why Troy Parrott to West Ham United seems unlikely
Speaking on the Give Me Sport YouTube channel, Jacobs claims that West Ham have ‘discussed’ the idea of signing the Tottenham academy graduate.
But with AZ Alkmaar raising his price-tag to around £25 million and Fulham ‘the more likely’ destination, it would be a surprise if Parrott is wearing claret and blue come February.
“Troy Parrott, who was Ireland’s hat-trick hero, as you can imagine, he’s starting to become in demand,” Jacobs says of a Dublin-born poacher who has scored 33 goals in 61 appearances for his Eredivisie employers.
“He needed to leave Tottenham to make a breakthrough. He’s done that now, of course.
“There is Premier League interest. I’m told AZ are relaxed about the situation for January and, from Parrott’s point of view, he’s focused on trying to play regularly and getting Ireland to the World Cup.
“Teams are discussing him. Leeds, a very interesting team to watch. In the end they went for Dominic Calvert-Lewin [last summer], but sources have told me that Leeds considered making a bid for Parrott for about 15 million euros.
“Now, his price is double that. Nobody will get Parrott for 15 million euros. Then Fulham and West Ham are two others that have discussed Troy Parrott. I think Fulham may be the more likely of the two to make a move.”
Which position do West Ham need to strengthen the most?
Like a certain Harry Kane, Parrott embarked on a series of largely forgettable loan spells in the EFL in his younger days. In 103 matches, he found the net a pretty miserable 16 times for Ipswich Town, Preston North End, Millwall and MK Dons.
As prolific as he is in Dutch football, the Eredivisie is not the most accurate barometer of a striker’s talents. For every Ruud van Nistelrooy and Luis Suarez, there are numerous Afonso Alves’ and Matija Kezmans.
Stuart Pearce a huge fan of England World Cup hopeful Ivan Toney
Speaking of the England captain, former West Ham defender and one-time assistant coach Stuart Pearce sees similarities between Toney and Kane.
His outstanding record in the top-flight with Brentford is the most obvious reason why Toney would be such a brilliant bit of business for West Ham. The Al-Ahli ace possesses that Kane-esque ability to drop deep and open up spaces for others to run in behind.
It is not hard to imagine Toney comfortably outscoring his predecessors in a West Ham shirt, while also bringing the best out of Jarrod Bowen, Crysencio Summerville and Lucas Paqueta.
“I like Ivan Toney,” Pearce told talkSPORT this week. “You put some legs around Ivan Toney and he’s the closest thing, probably like-for-like type [England have] to Harry Kane in some ways.
“I think he can hold the ball up and allow the likes of [Declan] Rice and [Jude] Bellingham and [Morgan] Rogers to go past him, and allow wide players to get into the wide areas and cross it and get on the end of things in regard to that.”