Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta smiles after Premier League win vs Chelsea
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta smiles after Premier League win vs Chelsea
Arsenal's interest in Bournemouth ace Eli Junior Kroupi is "very real" as they plan for the years ahead.
The Gunners were one of a number of clubs heavily linked with the 20-year-old in the summer but a move away from the Vitality Stadium never came to fruition due to injury.
Kroupi is currently on the sidelines after undergoing surgery on a foot issue sustained during Bournemouth's pre-season training camp in Austria back in July, thus ruling him out for a three-four month period in the process.
The Frenchman enjoyed a fine debut season on the south coast, scoring 13 goals as he helped the Cherries qualify for Europe for the very first time.
Kroupi will continue to have interest upon his return from injury, with football.london's Arsenal correspondent Tom Canton reporting that he is "one to keep an eye on" come the turn of the year if available.
"We reported at the start of the summer that Arsenal had a genuine interest in him and had he not got that injury, I would have been intrigued to see if Arsenal would have played a stronger card at the end of this window, rather than waiting on the [Julian] Alvarez situation to see if that was going to change. Interest is very real."
Eli Junior Kroupi's 2025/26 season in numbers
Planning for the years ahead
AFC Bournemouth's Eli Junior Kroupi celebrates
via Reuters
Arsenal have made some very shrewd transfer moves in recent years to put themselves in regular contention for football's top prizes.
The Premier League champions will not want to stand still in the transfer market as they look to continue their recent success under Mikel Arteta.
An attacking boost would help the Gunners out as they battle on four fronts, with the potential signing of Kroupi, who is valued around the £80m mark, elevating their attack to the very next level.
The French youngster would bolster the club's options up front, joining Kai Havertz and Viktor Gyokeres in competing for the striker spot in Arsenal's first XI.
His Cherries teammate Marcus Tavernier has certainly been full of praise for him last season.
There is still so much more to come from Kroupi, however, and all will want to see how he builds on such an impressive first season in the Premier League.
Arteta will be able to extract even more from him and playing alongside some of the best players in the world will only help his game progress over the coming years.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta smiles after Premier League win vs Chelsea
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta smiles after Premier League win vs Chelsea