West Ham United's summer recruitment drive has taken a fresh turn, according to Dutch outlet Voetbal International, with the club now contemplating a move for Leeds United forward Joel Piroe after their pursuit of Republic of Ireland striker Troy Parrott effectively fell apart.

Parrott deal runs into trouble

West Ham had been tracking AZ Alkmaar's Parrott, 24, as a potential addition to their attacking options this summer. However, the report suggests that deal is now all but dead, prompting the club's recruitment staff to redirect their attention elsewhere. No explanation for the collapse is given in the source, so the exact sticking point remains unclear.

The Hammers are in the Championship this season and the need to strengthen the forward line is genuine. Goals from wide areas and through the middle will be essential if the club are to challenge near the top of the second tier, which makes finding the right striker profile all the more important.

Who is Joel Piroe?

Piroe, 27, is a Suriname international who has Championship pedigree. The forward spent two seasons at Swansea City before joining Leeds United, where he has continued to develop. He is comfortable operating as a central striker or off the shoulder of a second forward, and his record in the second tier is one of the better-documented in recent windows.

It is worth being measured here: Voetbal International is a reputable Dutch football publication, but this is a report at the rumour stage, not a confirmed transfer. The phrase "final stages" appears in the original report, which suggests a deal is advanced, but until West Ham or Leeds confirm anything formally, supporters should treat this with appropriate caution.

What would Piroe offer West Ham?

This is the question worth sitting with. Piroe is an intelligent mover who tends to find pockets of space rather than leading the line in a purely physical sense. For a team that may look to build through midfield and use width, that kind of runner in behind could be useful. That said, we do not yet have the numbers from West Ham's pre-season or early-season play to know precisely what striker profile the manager is prioritising.

His age, 27, means he would arrive in what most analysts consider the peak window for a professional footballer, and if the fee is manageable, there is a reasonable case that the deal represents good business for the Hammers at Championship level. The flip side is that Leeds, themselves competing in the second tier, would presumably need adequate cover before sanctioning a departure.

Preston, Derby and others also busy

West Ham are far from alone in working the transfer market hard before the window shuts. Monday's gossip column also notes that Preston North End are close to signing Liverpool academy midfielder James McConnell, 21, on loan for the season, while Derby County and Charlton Athletic are both reportedly interested in taking goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo on loan from Wrexham.

Cardiff City, meanwhile, are in talks to sign Dutch defensive midfielder Melle Meulensteen from Eredivisie side Go Ahead Eagles, with the 27-year-old left out of their squad on Sunday because of the transfer interest. It is a busy period across the division and the picture could change significantly before deadline day.

The wider picture for West Ham

West Ham's fans will be aware the club drew 2-2 at Turf Moor recently, a result that highlighted the need for clinical finishing. Adding a proven Championship goalscorer, if the Piroe reports prove accurate, would address one of the more obvious concerns from that performance. Whether the deal moves to completion remains to be seen, but the direction of travel is at least encouraging.

Frequently asked

Is Joel Piroe joining West Ham United?
According to Dutch outlet Voetbal International, a deal for Leeds United forward Joel Piroe to join West Ham United is in its final stages, but neither club has confirmed the transfer and it remains at the rumour stage.
What happened to West Ham's move for Troy Parrott?
Reports suggest the deal to sign Republic of Ireland striker Troy Parrott from AZ Alkmaar is all but off, with West Ham now reportedly looking at alternative options including Joel Piroe.
What division are West Ham United in?
West Ham United are playing in the Championship, the English second tier, this season.