AFC Bournemouth face a major battle to keep Eli Junior Kroupi as Arsenal, Manchester City, PSG and other European giants circle. With the teenager reportedly dreaming of a move to Paris and Bournemouth demanding up to £100m, a fierce transfer saga is beginning to unfold.
Eli Junior Kroupi's remarkable breakthrough season at AFC Bournemouth has sparked one of the most intriguing transfer battles in European football, with Premier League giants Arsenal and Manchester City joined by Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich, Chelsea and Barcelona in the race for the teenage sensation. Bournemouth however, are keen to keep hold of their prized asset.
The 19-year-old forward enjoyed a historic debut Premier League campaign on the south coast, scoring 13 league goals and setting a new record for a teenager in their first season in England's top flight. His performances have transformed him from one of France's brightest prospects into one of the most sought-after young forwards in world football.
Despite Cherries' determination to retain their player, the growing list of admirers continues to expand. According to multiple reports, Arsenal have identified Kroupi as a potential attacking addition, with manager Mikel Arteta said to be a long-time admirer of the Frenchman. The Gunners could consider a move should they lose attacking options such as Leandro Trossard or Gabriel Martinelli this summer.
Action Images via Reuters/Paul ChildsManchester City are also firmly in the race, while Paris Saint-Germain have emerged as a major contender for the France Under-21 international's signature.
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano recently highlighted the scale of interest surrounding the Bournemouth star when speaking on his Youtube channel.
"And then guys, the big gem on the market - Kroupi the striker from Bournemouth because Bournemouth would like and love to keep the player," Romano said.
"But around Kroupi, after the fantastic season Eli Junior Kroupi had at Bournemouth - a fantastic season in terms of numbers, of goals, of quality - several, but several top clubs have started calling."
Romano went on to confirm that both Arsenal and Manchester City have already made enquiries.
"I can tell you for sure Arsenal have called, Manchester City have called, and more clubs are interested."
The Italian journalist also suggested Liverpool could become a factor should Andoni Iraola complete his anticipated move to Anfield.
"Let's see if Iraola goes to Liverpool, also what happens with Kroupi, but also Paris Saint-Germain are in the mix for Eli Junior Kroupi."
Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs PSG's interest could ultimately prove decisive. Reports in France suggest that Kroupi views a move to the newly-crowned European champions as his dream destination, potentially giving the Ligue 1 giants an advantage over their rivals.
Foot Mercato claim Bournemouth have placed a valuation of around €100 million (£85m) on the forward, while other reports suggest the Cherries would demand somewhere between £80m and £100m before considering a sale. Not bad money for a £10m signing.
The same report states: "Bournemouth's asking price is €100 million. But the Parisian club can count on one major advantage: Eli Junior Kroupi dreams of playing for PSG. He would therefore be delighted at the prospect of joining the Parisian side."
It must be remembered that, despite this interest, Bournemouth remain under no pressure to sell and have consistently signalled their desire to build around one of the brightest talents in Europe. The club secured Kroupi from sister-club Lorient with a long-term vision in mind, and after watching him flourish in his first Premier League season, they know replacing him would be an almost impossible task.
Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs Former Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola recently explained the development behind Kroupi's rapid rise.
"I think Junior has been a big challenge for me this season, one of the biggest challenges because we noticed straightaway that he has special things. His finishing is top for me," Iraola said.
"But we had to work a lot with him and, especially, he has had to do a lot of work that he wasn't used to to win his minutes. He has become a much better player for me."
Whether Bournemouth can fend off Europe's elite remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: Kroupi's future is set to become one of the defining transfer sagas of the summer.
