Arsenal Interested In Eli Junior Kroupi

Arsenal are keen on adding a fresh pair of legs to their attacking options in January after failing to secure another forward in the summer. Bournemouth’s Eli Junior Kroupi has emerged as a genuine target for the Gunners over the past few days.

According to Graeme Bailey, Mikel Arteta’s side have joined Manchester United in the race to sign Kroupi from the Cherries in the upcoming transfer window. London rivals Tottenham and Spanish giants Barcelona are both also monitoring the 20-year-old’s situation.

Bournemouth value the winger at around £85 million. There was strong interest in him from Barcelona in particular in the summer, but unfortunately he sustained a fractured metatarsal and was ruled out for three months. He returned to action last weekend as Bournemouth beat Manchester United 3-0 at Old Trafford.

Kroupi signed for Bournemouth in February last year from French side Lorient. He was loaned back to them for the remainder of the 2024/2025 campaign and then joined the Cherries’ first team in the summer a few months later. The Frenchman enjoyed a highly successful first season in the Premier League, scoring thirteen goals. This included a wonderful solo goal which contributed heavily to Arsenal securing their first Premier League title since 2004. The flying forward curled a beautiful effort into the top-right corner to fire Bournemouth ahead against Manchester City. The game ended 1-1, which ensured that the Gunners were champions.

Arsenal have struggled for goals from their forwards this season and an injection of attacking talent is certainly needed if they are to keep pushing for titles at the top. After selling Leandro Trossard, Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus in the summer, the Gunners only brought in Greece international Christos Tzolis as a replacement, leaving Arteta extremely light in the winger department, especially. With Tzolis and Bukayo Saka both sustaining relatively long-term injuries this season, Eberechi Eze has had to play out of position and Max Dowman has been called upon more than he would have.

The Gunners have only scored four Premier League goals this season that have come directly from their wingers, three for Saka and one for Noni Madueke. One of Saka’s was a spot kick. Since the international break, only one Arsenal attacker has scored, which was Madueke’s deflected strike against Nottingham Forest. It is clear that extra firepower in those areas is absolutely necessary and Kroupi has been identified as a great fit.

For now, it’s just an interest, but if the opportunity arises, Arsenal will certainly pursue the Frenchman.