Mikel Arteta - Arsenal
A striker who scores 13 in a first Premier League season does not stay a secret. The selling club still chooses the window.
January is when champions look for a missing piece. It is also when mid-table sides with Europe to play refuse to listen.
A foot injury does not take a name off a list. It takes him off the pitch until the selling club says otherwise.
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Bournemouth will not entertain offers for Eli Junior Kroupi in January, as per BBC Sport. The 20-year-old is among Arsenal’s targets for a new forward, but the Cherries are not selling him, Alex Scott or Rayan in the winter window. They want to stay in the Premier League race and go deep in the Europa League.
Kroupi scored 13 Premier League goals in his debut campaign at Bournemouth last season. He is currently out with a foot injury. Barcelona and Chelsea have been linked. LiveScore says Arsenal are regarded as the strongest suitors, and that any test of Bournemouth’s resolve is more likely in 2027 than this winter. No fee has been published.
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Fabrizio Romano told his podcast in September: “Arsenal are still looking at strikers, that’s the reality.
“They are considering options, looking at options. I would not call that something imminent or huge because Arsenal are very happy with the strikers they have. Arsenal are scoring a lot of goals.
“So, at the moment, they are quite happy and relaxed, I would say, with the options they have at the striker position. Then, if you ask me for 2027, striker is an area where they want cover. I expect to do something.
“If it’s not going to be in January, it might be in the summer transfer window. The timing, we will see. It’s too early now, it’s still September, but Arsenal are looking at the striker as the next priority for Mikel Arteta.”
On Kroupi he added: “Let’s see what kind of strikers are going to be available in 2027. For example, Kroupi at Bournemouth is a player who was on the list at Barcelona, Arsenal, Man City, PSG – several clubs wanted him. Let’s see if Arsenal will go back into conversations for him or not.
“There are several names Arsenal are considering. Arsenal will explore all the options because I expect a new striker, most likely in the summer transfer window.”
Arsenal sold Gabriel Martinelli, Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Jesus in the summer and signed Christos Tzolis. They did not land Vinicius Junior, Morgan Rogers or Julian Alvarez. Kai Havertz is the first-choice nine when fit and is back at London Colney with a suspected hamstring. Viktor Gyokeres has scored twice for Sweden and is still waiting for a league start.
That is why a 20-year-old with 13 goals sits on a 2027 list. It is also why Bournemouth can say no in January and mean it. Arsenal can look. They cannot buy him until the Cherries open the door.