Barcelona see 20-year-old Premier League striker as a future target; remain in contact with his camp | OneFootball

With FC Barcelona scouring the market for a new centre-forward this past summer, the name of Eli Junior Kroupi of AFC Bournemouth emerged as a potential target.

The 20-year-old French forward was coming on the back of an impressive debut campaign in the Premier League and was seen as a good, long-term fit by the Blaugrana.

As it became clear that Julian Alvarez would not arrive, the Catalans even contacted his representatives to explore the possibility of a move.

However, at the end of July, he suffered a fracture to the fifth metatarsal in his right foot, ending any hopes of a transfer.

Barcelona continue to monitor Kroupi

Now, according to SPORT, Kroupi remains highly regarded by part of Barcelona’s sporting department, which is convinced that the Frenchman has the potential to become a top-level player.

Barcelona rate Kroupi very highly. (Photo by Jack Thomas/Getty Images)

As such, the Catalan club will continue monitoring him once he returns from his injury. The forward is now entering the final stage of his recovery and is expected to make his comeback within a month at the latest.

As per the report, Kroupi was considered an option for Barcelona when it became increasingly clear that Alvarez would not be joining.

Much of the sporting department backed the young forward, while president Joan Laporta also liked the idea, despite an asking price of around €100 million and the risk involved in investing such a significant amount in a 20-year-old.

The striker’s his style of play is seen as something that fits extremely well with the type of forward that Deco and Hansi Flick wanted for the team. The injury ultimately brought negotiations to a halt.

Still in touch with his camp, but competition expected

Kroupi is currently recovering from an injury. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

But, Barcelona have continued to maintain contact with Kroupi’s representatives in order to remain well positioned.

The La Liga champions still believe he could be an excellent investment, despite Bournemouth making it clear that they will not sell for less than €100 million.

However, competition for his signing could ramp up as Arsenal and Tottenham remain interested in the player and could even attempt to sign him as early as January.

For now, Barcelona are not planning an immediate operation. Instead, the youngster is viewed as a potential future signing, from the summer of 2027 onwards.