Arsenal get €100m Eli Kroupi transfer boost ahead of injury return

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Tom Weber | Writer

Barcelona are unsure whether to revive their interest in Bournemouth forward Eli Junior Kroupi, which could work in Arsenal's favour ahead of a possible transfer in 2027.

The 20-year-old has yet to play in this new campaign after suffering a serious foot injury in pre-season. This not only halted his preparations for 2026/27, but it also prevented him from securing a big-money transfer.

There is no guarantee that Kroupi would have departed Bournemouth, with the South Coast club prepared to fight tooth and nail to keep the versatile attacker, but there was no shortage of interest in the summer.

Numerous big-hitters, most notably Arsenal and Barcelona, viewed Kroupi as a key target amid their failing pursuits of Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez. Prising Kroupi away from the Cherries would likely have required a fee in the region of €100 million.

However, the interest never even got to the stage of concrete negotiations due to his unfortunate injury. Several months on, the France youth international is close to making his return to competitive football.

Kroupi one to watch in 2027

It is believed that Kroupi could make his first cameo appearances for Bournemouth before the end of the month, which is a welcome boost for head coach Marco Rose, who has been forced to navigate an injury crisis that has also sidelined superstar midfielder Alex Scott.

Speaking to the media earlier this week, Rose confirmed that Kroupi is "back on the pitch" and expressed his hope that "maybe in a few weeks we have him [back in the squad] as well." He added that the injury situation is "getting better."

The 20-year-old bagged a hugely impressive 13 goals in fewer than 1,700 minutes in his first season of Premier League football, hence the strong interest in his services this summer. Without Kroupi and other absentees, the Cherries have struggled and remain winless in the league.

It may take some time for the youngster to recapture his form from last season, but if he shows that he hasn't lost any of his attacking instincts and technical ability, he will be one to watch in the transfer market next summer.

Prior to his arrival at the Vitality Stadium, he scored 22 goals in Ligue 2 for Lorient as a teenager, so last season clearly wasn't an outlier. The interest in him won't have disappeared just because he was out of action for a few months.

Arsenal still need attacking reinforcements. Viktor Gyokeres is facing an uncertain future and is likely to be replaced next year. With Alvarez unwilling to consider a return to England, Kroupi will surely be a prime target for the Gunners again in 2027.

And their efforts to sign the Frenchman may even be boosted by Barcelona. Sport notes that "there is no certainty that Barcelona will revive the operation or that the Frenchman will become a priority in the summer of 2027."

The Catalans boast one of Europe's deadliest attacks this season, with Raphinha starring as a makeshift striker and bargain summer signing Gabriel Jesus also bagging three goals. There is no urgency for Barcelona to sign another forward.

Moreover, they remain interested in Alvarez, who has made it very clear that he only wants to join them. After dropping his long-time agent Fernando Hidalgo, the Argentine is set to link up with Pablo Barquero, who engineered Rodri's move to Barcelona this summer.

All of this could be good news for Arsenal in their pursuit of Kroupi.

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