Etihad Stadium officials reportedly retain a 'very strong' transfer in Bournemouth forward Eli Junior Kroupi, according to new reports.
Manchester City pivoted to Iliman Ndiaye in the summer
More Videos
Manchester City are fresh off the back of a stellar summer of transfer activity in the way of incomings to the Etihad Stadium, with recruitment in all positions except for the defensive line.
Those arrivals accompanied a long list of high-profile departures, with the likes of Bernardo Silva leaving on a free at the end of his contract, Rodri joining Barcelona, and Omar Marmoush on a season-long loan to Tottenham with an obligation to buy.
Other departures included John Stones and Nathan Ake from defence, Tijjani Reijnders and Nico Gonzalez from the central midfield ranks, and Savinho from the attacking line under Enzo Maresca.
Naturally, a number of signings have been drafted in ranging from a new back-up goalkeeper in Geronimo Rulli to midfield reinforcements in Ayyoub Bouaddi, Enzo Fernandez, and Elliot Anderson, as well as Iliman Ndiaye in attack.
But while the summer transfer window may have only just concluded and Enzo Maresca visibly satisfied at the options available to him for the remainder of the 2026/27 season, transfer links continue to emerge concerning the Etihad Stadium.
Kroupi remains Manchester City target
Now, according to Manchester City insider 'Tolmie's Hairdoo' on X, those within the Etihad retain a very strong interest in Bournemouth forward Eli Junior Kroupi, who is said to have opted to 'sit and wait' with regards to his future due to an ongoing injury recovery.
Those at the Vitality Stadium are reportedly aware that Manchester City have compiled 'extensive' scouting reports on the Frenchman, and the youngster's own camp have been 'in the loop' on the matter for over a year.
What other work needs to be done at Man City?
One of the high-profile story lines of the summer was Manchester City's interest in recruiting in the right-back position, despite the rise of Matheus Nunes in the role over the past two seasons.
Hugo Viana - City's director of football - was heavily linked with interest in the likes of Feyenoord's Givairo Read, AS Roma's Wesley, and Chelsea's Malo Gusto, with the latter valued by his Stamford Bridge employees at £75 million.
Subsequent reports have suggested that Chelsea also responded to City's interest in the French defender with a demand for Nico O'Reilly in the opposite direction, in addition to their valuation paid in full.
Unsurprisingly, Manchester City showed no interest in entertaining such a deal that involved their 2026 PFA Young Player of the Year, nor simply at Chelsea's eye-watering valuation of the defender.
It remains to be seen whether City return to the market in 2026 for a player in the right-back role, and whether any of their targets from the recent summer window re-emerge on their radar.