A new striker is going to be a priority for Leeds United this summer and one option identified by The Whites has been likened to Robbie Keane, by the man himself.
There are doubts over whether Joel Piroe will be able to lead the line in the Premier League having never played in the top tier, and struggling at times in the Championship. He managed 19 goals last season.
Mateo Joseph remains a target for Betis and Patrick Bamford is Patrick Bamford, injury prone but still seeming to have an impact at Elland Road. Bamford has a year left on his contract with the Yorkshire side.
A new striker is a priority, one that Leeds feel they can rely on to score goals. Everton’s talisman Beto has been linked, as has a surprise move for Jamie Vardy – but AZ Alkmaar’s Troy Parrott is also a Leeds target.
Leeds want Troy Parrott and Robbie Keane is a big fan of his
The former Tottenham forward has found a home in the Netherlands after some indifferent loan spells with the likes of Millwall, Preston and MK Dons. He has gone to the Eredivisie and starred for Alkmaar.
A tally of 20 goals and five assists, including four goals and two assists in the Europa League, have come in Parrott’s first season outside of England. Leeds are now eyeing a move for Ireland international Parrott.
Speaking at the beginning of the year, Keane – who has also played for Spurs and Leeds, and worked with Parrott while coaching with Ireland – said he sees similarities between himself and Alkmaar star Parrott.
He told RTE in January this year: “He should be having more game time with the national team over the last year or two years, if I’m being honest. He has something different. He’s clever, difficult to play against.
“He can go in behind and he can come short. In ways, he’s very similar to me. The two of us weren’t the quickest but we’re sharp over 10, 15 yards. And then you see how his brain works on the football pitch.
“I told him that after the game [Alkmaar lost to Keane’s Ferencvaros in January, with Parrott scoring in a 4-3 defeat] and before the game. Listen, I’m obviously delighted to see what he’s doing,” Keane added.
Can Troy Parrott do it in the Premier League in a Leeds side?
There is no doubt that there is a talent in Parrott and to get such an endorsement from someone like Keane, who knows his strikers, it is proof that he could join a Premier League side like Leeds and shine.
However, Parrott has only ever proved a success in Dutch football and in League One in England. During his loans in the Championship, he struggled. Alkmaar want £25m, which would be a record sale for them.
Whether or not he is worth the risk, remains to be seen. Leeds have informed Alkmaar that £25m is too much for Parrott, but if a deal can be done between £15m and £20m, there could be a deal to be done.
