Coventry City and Ipswich Town eyeing up 30-goal star - Spurs transfer threat looms | OneFootball

Coventry City and Ipswich Town are reportedly monitoring AZ Alkmaar's Irish striker Troy Parrott this summer

Coventry City and Ipswich Town are heading to the Premier League in the automatic promotion positions, as both clubs prepare for the crucial summer transfer window ahead.

With the 46 league games now done, we know the three relegated sides, and we know the two promoted sides, as one final side will learn their fate via the playoffs, with attentions turning to Millwall, Southampton, Middlesbrough, and Hull City to see who will join Coventry and Ipswich.

Coventry romped to the league title in style, scoring the most and conceding the least on their way to lifting the trophy under the guidance of Frank Lampard, whilst Ipswich, under Kieran McKenna, had to wait until the final day to find out their outcome, with a 3-0 victory over Queens Park Rangers enough to see the Tractor Boys bounce back at the first time of asking.

Both will be among some of the favourites for relegation next season, as most promoted sides naturally are, and both will be looking to have strong transfer windows to boost their chances of survival, with a certain Irish striker being linked with a move to the promoted pair.

Coventry City and Ipswich Town are monitoring Troy Parrott's situation at AZ Alkmaar amid Spurs option

As both Coventry and Ipswich prepare to make the jump to the top-flight, upgrades across the board will need to be made, as there is absolutely no time for sentiment from either side.

Lampard will be well aware of what it takes to survive in the Premier League, with over 600 appearances in the division as a player and over 100 more as a manager previously with Chelsea and Everton, whilst McKenna will have hoped to have learnt from his past mistakes last campaign and keep Ipswich afloat next time around.

Haji Wright is Coventry's current first-choice option up top, with Ellis Simms and Brandon Thomas-Asante offering backup to the American, though Wright has persistently been linked with a move away over the previous windows, and whilst he is unlikely to leave this summer, the possibility of an exit isn't out of the question.

Lampard may be looking to bring in an upgrade up top next season, and, according to French journalist Sebastien Vidal via X, both Coventry and Ipswich are monitoring AZ Alkmaar's Irish striker Troy Parrott.

Parrott, 24, has had a wonderful year in the Netherlands, with 30 goals and 11 assists in all competitions at club level, and has shone on the international stage with the Republic of Ireland, completing an unforgettable hat-trick in the final minute against Hungary.

The Irishman joined AZ in the summer of 2024 for just £6.7 million from Tottenham Hotspur after previous loans to the likes of Millwall, Ipswich, MK Dons, Preston North End, and Excelsior, before earning a permanent switch to Alkmaar.

Spurs do not have a buyback clause in his deal, but do have a 20 per cent sell-on clause inserted in the deal that saw him leave the North London outfit, but may want to try and lure him back themselves this summer, especially if they are relegated to the Championship, which remains a distinct possibility.

Indeed, it has been reported that the striker would jump at the opportunity to return to Spurs if an offer is on the table.

As for Ipswich, Parrott scored just twice in 18 appearances for the Tractor Boys previously, but could emerge as a serious option for McKenna this summer, with Ivan Azon set to return to Como from his loan, and George Hirst unlikely to make the required step-up.

No formal offers have been made as yet, but Parrott will certainly be attracting a lot of interest this summer, as Coventry and Ipswich join a long list of clubs vying for his services over the next few months.

Frank Lampard and Kieran McKenna are set to battle one another for Troy Parrott's signature

Not only have Coventry and Ipswich gone head-to-head this season, but they are set to do so next campaign, as well as this summer.

There is every chance that the two clubs could be close to a level playing field as they head into the Premier League, with each transfer decision being made a crucial one in either's survival hopes.

Parrott has made just two Premier League appearances to date in his career, and isn't quite the experience you'd want at this stage, but having enjoyed his best season to date, the Irishman may feel as though he has a point to prove, and may be enticed by a move to either club.

Whether Lampard or McKenna have more pull at this stage remains to be seen, but both managers will be battling among several other sides for the Irishman's services this summer.