Credit: Manh Tung, Breaking Media

James Barker

Wed 20 May 2026 8:40, UK

Troy Parrott’s playing style may clash with what Leeds United currently have, as the AZ Alkmaar forward is linked with a move to West Yorkshire.

Leeds will be looking to strengthen at both ends of the pitch this summer, with 49 goals scored and 53 conceded in the Premier League this term.

Both are very respectable figures for a newly-promoted team, and Daniel Farke‘s side have possessed enough quality in attack and defence to steer them well clear of the threat of relegation.

Whites chiefs won’t be resting on their laurels though, and having now built the nucleus of a team that can compete in the top flight, it’s now about kicking this side on in 2026-27.

To do that, Leeds will perhaps favour quality over quantity signings, and that’s seen them linked to one of the best players in the Eredivisie this year, Parrott.

Why Troy Parrott may not work at Leeds United

Leeds are reportedly interested in signing Parrott this summer, with the 24-year-old enjoying a fantastic campaign in Dutch football.

Indeed, the former Tottenham talent has netted 31 times and provided 10 assists in 48 total appearances for AZ Alkmaar, with 16 of those goals coming in the Eredivisie.

A 35-cap Ireland international, Parrott joined AZ in the summer of 2024 on a permanent basis from Spurs, having not been able, nor particularly afforded, the opportunity to perform at the top level in English football.

However, he’s been smashing it in the Eredivisie, and as he now heads towards the prime of his career, he may now finally be ready to return to these shores to prove that the Premier League isn’t beyond his level.

The problem with a possible move to Leeds lies in his playing style, as whilst AZ’s number nine, the Irishman is more cut from the Harry Kane cloth of strikers, who love to drop into midfield and roam across the forward line.

As per FotMob, Parrott has played 399 successful passes in the Eredivisie this season, which shows how much of a link-up striker he is when you consider Dominic Calvert-Lewin has completed 256 in the Premier League.

AZ have predominantly played in either a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 formation this season, which has granted Parrott with the space and freedom to drop deeper without congesting their attacking build-up play.

However, Farke has now seemingly made a full-time switch to a back three system at Leeds, and that’s routinely seen him deploy either two strikers with a midfield five, or one striker with two attacking midfielders behind.

Both the 3-4-2-1 and 3-5-2 formations don’t really accommodate a centre-forward that wants to get on the ball all the time, hence why Calvert-Lewin has enjoyed so much success this term providing that target man presence who is always in the box.

The concern here would be that Leeds don’t need another body in attacking midfield, with Noah Okafor, Brenden Aaronson and Anton Stach all quality options in there, and Parrott may clash with them in the build-up as a result.

Parrott may want get the main man role he wants at Leeds

Having hit over 30 goals for AZ in 2025-26 and top clubs across Europe sure to be interested, Parrott’s signature won’t come cheap.

He will also most likely want to sign for a team where he’s got the best chance of being the main man, and why shouldn’t he given his form in the Netherlands.

Leeds’ potential sales pitch, as convincing as it may well be, might not be able to offer him that kind of role at Elland Road.

Between Calvert-Lewin at the centre-forward spot, to the aforementioned mouths to feed in attacking midfield, Parrott would certainly have plenty of competition on his hands in West Yorkshire.

All these things considered then, Parrott might not be best suited to this Leeds United team.