Eli Junior Kroupi
Arsenal are reportedly battling with Premier League rivals over a deal to sign AFC Bournemouth forward Eli Junior Kroupi, as per Football Insider.
The Gunners displayed impressive form for the majority of this season, but have started to stumble in recent weeks. After losing the Carabao Cup final to Manchester City last month, they were knocked out of the FA Cup by Southampton.
Although Arsenal have reached the Champions League semi-final by defeating Sporting CP 1-0 on aggregate, Mikel Arteta’s side have now allowed the Citizens to close the gap at the top of the Premier League table.
Arsenal faced Man City in a potential title-deciding fixture last weekend, but Pep Guardiola’s side eventually won the game 2-1 courtesy of Rayan Cherki and Erling Haaland’s goals.
Still, Arsenal are at the top of the table with 70 points from 33 matches. However, if Man City win their remaining game against Burnley in midweek, they would be at the top of the table on goal difference.
Amid this situation, Arsenal have already started exploring options to strengthen the squad this summer and continue challenging on all fronts next season.
Now, Football Insider state that Arsenal are interested in signing a new young striker and have identified Kroupi as a serious option after being impressed by his performances this season.
Kroupi to Arsenal
The North London club have been keeping a close eye on the Frenchman’s development before making a potential swoop in the upcoming summer transfer window.
Kroupi joined the Cherries last summer and still has a contract until 2030. So, Bournemouth aren’t in any rush to sell him, but the 19-year-old is keen on leaving to take the next step in his career.
The report state that if Bournemouth are eventually forced to cash-in, they want a lucrative proposal. However, purchasing the forward won’t be straightforward for Arsenal as Liverpool and Manchester United are also in this race.
Kroupi has played as a rotational option under Andoni Iraola this season; still, he has scored 10 goals in the Premier League. He is a highly talented player and could become a top-class striker in the future.
So, he, valued at around £35m by Transfermarkt, would be a great coup for Arsenal should they eventually manage to secure his service.