Troy Parrott closing in on Betis deal

Real Betis have already made several tweaks to their Copa del Rey-winning side, having signed backup goalkeeper Diego Conde from Villarreal, while they've also added Uruguayan defensive midfielder Facundo Bernal from Fluminense. Conde isn't the only Spaniard joining, with left back Fran Garcia arriving from Real Madrid.

However, perhaps their most significant signing will be AZ Alkmaar's Troy Parrott. Born and raised in Dublin, Parrott joined Tottenham Hotspur's academy in 2017, making his first-team debut two years later under Jose Mourinho. He left eight months later, splitting the 2020/21 season between Millwall and Ipswich Town, before heading to MK Dons and Preston North End.

After cutting his teeth in League One and the Championship, Parrott then made the move to the Eredivisie, where he scored 17 goals but failed to save them from relegation. No longer content to be a loan soldier, Parrott then joined fellow Dutch side AZ Alkmaar for €8 million. It didn't take long for him to justify their investment, leading them to back-to-back KNVB Cup Finals and strong finishes in the Netherlands' top division.

Parrott hasn't just delivered the goods for AZ, racking up 51 goals and 17 assists in 97 appearances, but he's also made his presence felt for the Republic of Ireland with 11 goals in 37 appearances. Last season, Parrott scored a brace vs. Portugal and a hat-trick vs. Hungary, leading them to the World Cup playoffs, where they narrowly missed out on a ticket to North America.

It's precisely these performances which have drawn the attention of Betis, who look set to beat out West Ham to the signing of the Irish striker. At 24 years of age, Parrott has established himself as one of the top forwards outside of Europe's top five leagues, and there's no surprise that the best betting sites Ireland have tipped him for a big move.

Ultimately, it seems that Betis will end up signing him for €20 million, with Parrott set to test his skills in the UEFA Champions League as Betis return after 21 years. He's already led AZ to wondrous heights, but now, can he do the same for Betis?