Everton are keen to see if they can force the transfer of a former Tottenham forward who is now in the form of his life, according to reports.
Everton plan for summer as European dream all but ends
Everton's first season under the Friedkin Group has been a positive one by most measures.
Everton manager David Moyes celebrates after the match
David Moyes' side have since slipped to 12th with one game to play after a dismal run of late-season form, but considering the bigger picture of 25/26, there is a lot of room for positivity considering they were staring into the abyss not so long ago.
European qualification remains mathematically possible but realistically out of reach, with the Toffees needing to overhaul four teams in the space of 90 minutes and batter Spurs on the final day to usurp Brentford's superior goal difference.
Still, what a summer for the Merseysiders it promises to be.
Everton's Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall during the warm up before the match Related
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The Toffees want to sign an "incredible" player.
TFG have signalled their intent to back Moyes with serious investment, with reports suggesting that the owners are ready to fund a big-money striker signing.
John Stones is also reportedly a favourite to return to Everton on a free transfer, but the search for attacking reinforcements has been a constant theme in the background.
Another name has entered the conversation there, and his numbers this season demand attention.
Everton want to sign ex-Tottenham striker Troy Parrott
According to outlet SoccerNews in the Netherlands, Everton are among a group of clubs exploring the possibility of signing Troy Parrott from AZ Alkmaar, with Moyes' side "curious to see if they can force a transfer".
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The 24-year-old Irish international has been one of the most prolific strikers in European football this season, scoring 31 goals and registering 12 assists in 48 appearances across all competitions for the Dutch club.
In the Eredivisie alone, he has hit 16 goals in 28 matches — a return made all the more impressive by the fact that a knee ligament injury in late August kept him out until October.
Since recovering, Parrott has been unstoppable.
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A hat-trick and an assist in a 6-0 demolition of Ajax in the KNVB Cup in January was the standout moment, but the goals have been relentless throughout.
He scored his 30th of the season in the KNVB Cup final against NEC Nijmegen in April, helping AZ to a 5-1 victory and the first domestic trophy of his career.
His international form has been equally remarkable — a brace against Portugal and a hat-trick in Hungary, including a 96th-minute winner, fired Ireland into the World Cup playoffs last November.
Spurs Parrott
Parrott joined AZ from Tottenham for around £7m in the summer of 2024 and has three years remaining on his contract.
Transfermarkt value him at around £18m, but AZ will not let him go that cheaply given his importance to the squad and the length of time left on his deal.
Everton are not the only club circling.
SoccerNews report that Tottenham are interested in re-signing the striker they sold two years ago, while Leeds and AC Milan have also been monitoring his situation.
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Parrott himself told ESPN after AZ's final Eredivisie game — a 3-3 draw with NAC Breda — that he feels it is time for the next step: "It's important for me to take the next step in my career and to play at the highest level."
Whether Everton can win the race will depend on the financial package they put together and the competition they face.
However, a 24-year-old with 31 goals in a single season, Premier League pedigree through his Spurs upbringing, and a hunger to prove himself in England's top flight is exactly the kind of profile Moyes has been looking for.
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