Troy Parrott: Summer's Surprise Striker Chase
Troy Parrott has turned into one of this window’s more intriguing centre-forward stories. What started as a quiet appreciation of his work at AZ has developed into a genuine queue, with well-connected reporter Ben Jacobs stating that at least five clubs are now circling the Irishman.
Fulham are the first with their name on the list. They tracked Parrott towards the end of last season but never pushed that interest into a formal bid. Since then, Álvaro Arbeloa’s side have moved to secure Gonzalo García from Real Madrid, a deal that reshapes their attacking options and raises a simple question: are they stockpiling forwards, or does Parrott sit higher on their board than García?
They are not alone in asking the question.
Ajax and PSV Join the Hunt
Como and Real Betis are keeping tabs on Parrott’s situation, quietly watching Alkmaar. The noise grows louder in the Netherlands, though, where both Ajax and PSV have made recent enquiries with AZ.
Ajax’s presence in this race jars at first glance. The Amsterdam club have already brought in two strikers in this window: Marcos Leonardo from Al-Hilal for around twenty million euros and Tolu Arokodare on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers. Add Kasper Dolberg and Don-Angelo Konadu to that list and Ajax already have four recognised centre-forwards in the squad.
On paper, that should close the door. Instead, their interest in Parrott hints at something else: either a looming departure in that crowded forward line or a deliberate push to overhaul the position completely. You do not stock a dressing room with five strikers without a plan.
PSV’s angle looks far more straightforward. Alassane Pléa remains some distance from the sharp, decisive level he showed before his injury, and Ricardo Pepi still faces an uncertain future, with the possibility of a move away this summer. That instability leaves PSV vulnerable at the very top of the pitch. Parrott, proven in the Eredivisie and still climbing, fits neatly into that gap.
AZ Hold the Cards
What AZ will demand is the big unknown. Their asking price last winter hovered around thirty million euros, a figure that underlined just how firmly they believe in Parrott’s ceiling. With the striker under contract in Alkmaar until mid-2029, they are under no pressure to sell and know the market is leaning in their favour.
AZ, though, have already begun to plan for life after him. The next man up is not an external signing but a familiar face. Mexx Meerdink is set to step into the role of first-choice striker under new head coach Leeroy Echteld, a promotion that says plenty about how the club view their academy pipeline. Behind him, Jizz Hornkamp stands ready as a solid, dependable back-up.
So the path is clear. AZ are structurally prepared for Parrott’s departure, the contract length gives them leverage, and a handful of clubs from three different leagues are testing the waters.
Now it comes down to who blinks first: the club that wants to cash in on a prized asset, or the one willing to stake a serious fee on a striker whose best years still lie ahead.
