West Ham eye ‘Unbelievable’ Leeds star as Parrott stalls

West Ham United are reported to be in the final stages of signing Leeds United striker Joel Piroe after their pursuit of Irish forward Troy Parrott appears to have stalled, with the Hammers having offered £15 million but being told the price is £20 million.

Why West Ham switched focus

New centre‑forward acquisitions have been a priority for manager Nuno Espírito Santo, and Troy Parrott was originally a top target. The club’s opening bid for AZ Alkmaar’s frontman failed, prompting a reassessment of options.

Attention then turned to Leeds United’s Joel Piroe, a Surinamese striker who has fallen down Daniel Farke’s pecking order and is expected to leave Elland Road this summer.

Deal terms and implications

West Ham reportedly offered £15 million for Piroe, only to be quoted a £20 million asking price, leaving the Hammers feeling “short‑changed” after an earlier valuation of £16 million.

suggests the club may prefer a loan with an obligation to buy, while Leeds appear to favour a permanent sale that could see them recoup the fee next summer.

Piroe has two years remaining on his contract, having joined Leeds from Swansea in the summer of 2023 for just over £10 million.

Farke praised him in October, saying, “For me, he’s the best finisher I’ve ever worked with… he’s an unbelievable finisher and in these terms, really world class.”

The Hammers’ squad already includes Valentin Castellanos up front, and recent arrivals such as Arne Engels, Manor Solomon, Beaver Lamadrid and Joel Veltman have bolstered the team.

Parrott’s AZ deal may have been deterred by the Dutch club’s price; the Irish striker scored 31 goals in 48 games across competitions last season.

The report was written by Matthew Guyett and published on Aug 16, 2026 at 3:16 PM GMT+1 on GiveMeSport, a Premier League and European football outlet. Guyett, a University of Essex Creative Writing graduate, joined GiveMeSport in August 2024 after a three‑year stint at Sportskeeda. Here, readers can give their thoughts and follow the developing deal.