There’s hardly ever been a transfer more important for Irish fans than that of Troy Parrott this summer.

AZ’s manager has confirmed that the Dubliner is looking to leave the Eredivisie side after scoring 51 goals across two seasons for the side and winning the Dutch Cup.

That form has translated internationally as well, as he was key in Ireland’s late surge into the World Cup play-offs.

As many as a dozen clubs have had their names linked with Parrott this summer, but with the window closing, here’s a look at some of the sides who are chasing his signature.

West Ham United

This one has been the loudest rumour as of late, with Sky Sports reporting that now-Championship West Ham United want to make Troy Parrott the most expensive Championship signing of all time for €35million.

The Hammers are in the midst of a takeover bid by former Newcastle owner Amanda Staveley, as it looks like a new era at the club is afoot.

However, the club has been in turmoil for years now, and is far from stable, as well as having a horrific track record with strikers.

However, with his previous unsuccessful spell in England and the fact that the Championship is as competitive as ever, if he doesn’t hit the ground running, Parrott could lose all the good momentum he’s built during his time in Europe. Rating: 4/10.

Ajax

The Amsterdam giants are also in a period of transition as Spaniard Michel takes the helm as gaffer after a spell at Girona which saw the Catalans reach the Champions League.

After a catastrophic fifth-place Eredivisie finish last term, Ajax have spent big on the likes of Julian Brandt, Marc-André ter Stegen and Marcos Leonardo as they look to regain the Dutch title for the first time since 2022.

Troy Parrott knows the league there, and with a better all-round squad than what’s currently at AZ, he could continue his goalscoring ways. However, Ajax are a far cry from their former self, and have had a chaotic few years in their own right. Rating: 6/10.

Real Betis

The Spanish side are in Dublin for their pre-season friendly with Arsenal, and that may have inspired them to make a move to the city’s best footballer currently in Parrott. Manuel Pellegrini’s side offer Champions League football after their fifth-place La Liga finish last season and have several creative players like Isco, Antony and Abde Ezzalzouli.

The side scored 59 goals last season, with 11 from Colombian forward Cucho Hernandez, with whom Parrott would be competing for minutes. Pellegrini seems to want to work with a small squad, so there should be ample opportunity for Parrott to impress. Rating: 6/10.

PSV

If you can’t beat them, join them, in the case of PSV’s reported pursuit of Troy Parrott. The Eindhoven side have won the last three Eredivisie league titles with Peter Bosz at the helm, playing an extremely attacking brand of football.

They scored 101 league goals last term, nearly 25 more than any other side in the division as they also recorded a memorable win over Liverpool in the Champions League, showing off their deadly counter-attacking game against the then-reigning Premier League champions.

With World Cup star Ismael Saibari completing a move to Bayern Munich for €50million, PSV are looking to strengthen their attack once more, and Troy Parrott could be the man to help make it four titles in a row, and maybe make a deep run in the Champions League. Rating: 7/10.

Como

No club has had as steep a rise as Como in the last few years. Still a Serie B side as recently as 2024, Como are set to compete in the Champions League next season after a sensational campaign under manager Cesc Fabregas.

With the backing of an Indonesian billionaire owner, the 2010 World Cup winner has been able to build an exciting, young squad built around several Spanish-developed talents like Nico Paz (who they just re-signed from Real Madrid for €60million), Assane Diao and Jesus Rodriguez. Last season they brought in Alvaro Morata as the forward, and with only 1 goal all of last season, they are looking to strengthen, and Troy Parrott could be the perfect man.

With a beautiful stadium on the famous Lake Como, with a new stand hopefully finishing in time for the Champions League, in one of the most exciting teams in Europe, it’s hard to point at any problem with Como as Parrott’s next club, other than the fact they aren’t in the Premier League. Rating: 9/10.

Porto

Another side off the back of a league title, Porto secured their 31st league title after finishing six points above second-place Sporting, in Italian Francesco Farioli’s first season in charge of the Portuguese giants.

With ex-Chelsea manager André Villas-Boas as President, the Dragons are yet another side in a new era after the over 40-year reign of previous club President Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa. Spanish forward Samu Aghehowa is currently the subject of several transfer rumours himself, being linked with Chelsea among others over the past year.

So if that move goes through, then Troy Parrott will have a clear run at being the first-choice 9 for the side. Rating: 7/10.

Fulham

An interesting one this, as after Marco Silva departed the London side for Benfica, Fulham have gone for a whole new approach for next season.

They’ve gone and taken a trio of unproven Real Madrid men in the form of former manager Alvaro Arbeloa and academy graduates Gonzalo Garcia and Cesar Palacios, the latter two for a combined €50 million.

For the first time since their return to the Premier League, Fulham don’t look too stable, and a move there would definitely be a jump into the unknown for Parrott. Rating: 6/10.