West Ham have been heavily linked with a move for Troy Parrott after the club made it clear that Nuno Espirito Santo will be backed to sign a new striker in the January transfer window.
The striker situation at West Ham has been a major issue all too often down the years.
Since David Sullivan arrived at the club nearly 16 years ago, the Hammers have signed 57 forwards.
Not all have been flops but very few have been success stories.
Niclas Fullkrug is the latest example of the archetypal West Ham striker fumble.
The Hammers spent £27m on the ageing, injury-prone striker despite his advancing years and serious concerns over fitness and his suitability for the Premier League, where pace and mobility are key.
West Ham to offload Fullkrug in January
It took Nuno Espirito Santo just one game to know that signing a new striker is key in the January transfer window.
West Ham have already held talks about offloading Fullkrug in January with a return to Germany or move to Italy on the cards.
That would leave the Hammers with Callum Wilson as Nuno’s only senior striker.
Should West Ham cut their losses on Niclas Fullkrug in January?
“I think it might make sense to make a change.
“Many would probably agree that Niclas is a classic penalty-area striker – strong in the air, physically powerful, able to shield the ball – basically made for the Premier League. [But] in retrospect, you have to say the transfer didn’t work. There’s no sugar-coating it.
“Time and again, just when you thought, ‘now he’s coming, now he’ll show England it wasn’t just a good Euro and then nothing afterwards’, another injury came. And that’s a shame.
“He’s had a bit of negative momentum and also some bad luck” – agent Thorsten Wirth
Photo by Pal Gollner/NurPhoto via Getty Images
While Wilson has been performing well and scoring, he is no spring chicken and has a lengthy history of serious injuries too.
The Hammers have been linked with a number of strikers ahead of the winter window.
Ivan Toney, Chris Wood, Kaio Jorge, Joshua Zirkzee, Endrick and Franculino Dju are some of the names in the frame.
Another is Republic of Ireland hero Troy Parrott.
Hammers linked with Republic of Ireland hero Parrott
AZ Alkmaar sensation Parrott ensured that Ireland have a play-off in March to make it to the World Cup.
There were incredible scenes as Parrott completed a legendary hat-trick by scoring a 96th minute winner in a five-goal thriller against Hungary to make it to the World Cup qualifier play-off.
Since those heroics, ex Spurs academy graduate Parrott has been linked with a Premier League return.
Reporter Ben Jacobs claims West Ham are in the queue for Parrott and have ‘discussed’ the idea of signing the 23-year-old striker.
West Ham’s Europa Conference League semi-final foes Alkmaar are said to want £25 million for Parrott with Fulham also in the mix.
The Hammers are crying out for a younger, more mobile forward with pace. So the Dublin-born forward appears to fit the bill.
Now exciting West Ham striker target Parrott has dropped a big hint over his future amid London Stadium move links.
Parrott has previously made it clear he wants “the right environment” to continue his development if he does leave Alkmaar.
He has reportedly put emphasis on joining a club “willing to trust young players”.
Photo By Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile via Getty ImagesExciting West Ham target Parrott drops big hint over future
Nuno has certainly proved that with his West Ham team selections thus far.
Parrott was taking part in a ‘this or that’ challenge on TikTok whereby he had to throw a dart at one of two boards to choose his answer.
The Hammers target was asked questions like ‘would you rather score a goal or three assists>’ or ‘would you rather score a header or a volley?’
It was his immediate response when asked one particular question which will raise eyebrows at West Ham, though.
Given the speculation over a move to West Ham, Parrott was asked ‘Alkmaar or London’.
Parrott instantly turns to the dart board and launches his arrow into the Alkmaar board.
That suggests he is more than happy with the Dutch club and is not pushing for a return to London with West Ham.
But that could all change if and when the Hammers put down the money for the Ireland hero come what January.
Especially if Alkmaar effectively take the decision out of Parrott’s hands by accepting West Ham’s bid.
The Dutch side are expected try and command a fee of around £20-25m for him.
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