West Ham appear to have missed the chance to bring the €20m-rated striker to the London Stadium this summer.

West Ham United now seem likely to lose out on leading summer transfer target Troy Parrott after negotiations with AZ Alkmaar came to a halt, according to a report by talkSPORT.

The Hammers had been in active talks with the Dutch club over a move for the Republic of Ireland international.

But the discussions collapsed after West Ham did not match AZ Alkmaar's valuation of the 24-year-old forward. The fee being demanded would have made Parrott one of the costliest signings in Championship history following West Ham's relegation from the Premier League.

La Liga side Real Betis have now emerged as the new favourites, with the Hammers unable to rival the standard of football currently on offer in Seville.

The Spanish club are nearing a €20m (£17m) agreement to sign the former Tottenham Hotspur striker, with talks understood to be in the final stages. Betis, who secured Champions League football by finishing fifth in La Liga, are in a position to offer Parrott top-level European competition as well as top-flight football.

This summer's transfer chase comes after a major turnaround in Parrott’s career since his move to the Netherlands.

Following a productive loan spell at Excelsior, where he scored 17 goals in all competitions, he completed a permanent switch to AZ Alkmaar and soon established himself as one of the more dangerous forwards in Dutch football.

Parrott enjoyed an outstanding 2025/26 season in the Netherlands, recording 31 goals and 10 assists in 48 appearances across all competitions for AZ Alkmaar, including 16 goals in the Eredivisie.

His club form was matched by eye-catching performances for the national team last autumn, which helped make him a widely recognised name across Europe.

During Ireland's dramatic World Cup qualifying campaign, Parrott scored a hat-trick against Hungary, including a 96th-minute winner that sealed a 3-2 victory.

After being beaten to Parrott's signature, West Ham have shifted focus to other attacking options to spearhead their Championship promotion push, bringing in Joel Piroe from Leeds United on an initial season-long loan.

The Hammers opened their 2026/27 campaign with a Carabao Cup victory over Portsmouth, before following it up with a 2-2 draw against Burnley in the league.

Meanwhile, Parrott is expected to complete his move to Seville in the coming days.