Arsenal forward target Kroupi nears injury return in boost for January move
Arsenal's long standing interest in Eli Junior Kroupi could be reignited in January, with the Bournemouth forward taking a major step in his recovery from a foot injury by returning to full training this week.
The 20 year old Frenchman, valued at around £90 100million, underwent surgery in July after picking up the injury in pre season. Bournemouth boss Marco Rose has confirmed Kroupi is back involved in training and could even feature against Manchester United this Sunday, a timeline that will be watched closely at the Emirates.
The Friday Injury Tracker
Who's out, who's back and what it means for the next two games.
Arsenal's interest in Kroupi is not new. football.london revealed in May that the club had identified him as a target, well before his dramatic goal against Manchester City handed Arsenal the Premier League title last season. He scored 13 goals in his first top flight campaign and became a key target for Mikel Arteta heading into the summer, as Arsenal prioritised signing a marquee forward.
Why the move stalled in summer
Bournemouth, however, made their position clear, insisting Kroupi was not for sale. The Cherries believed he would benefit from another season on the south coast, with their hand strengthened further by qualifying for European football. His foot injury in pre season only added to the complications, pushing Arsenal to focus their energy elsewhere, most notably on a move for Julian Alvarez.
That pursuit ultimately failed too. Arsenal held interest in the Atletico Madrid striker right up to the end of the transfer window, hoping he would reconsider a move to north London. Alvarez had made no secret of his preference for Barcelona, and after Atletico blocked that switch, he chose to stay in Madrid rather than join Arsenal, despite being booed by his own supporters for going on strike over the situation.
Diego Simeone has since praised Alvarez's attitude, and the Argentine scored his first goal of the season this week as he becomes further integrated into the Atletico squad. That, combined with the growing distance from the summer saga, makes a January move for Alvarez appear increasingly unlikely, even though Arteta is said to still rate him highly.
The goal scoring problem remains
Arsenal's need for attacking reinforcement has not gone away. The club have scored fewer goals than any other side in the current top four this season, a statistic that underlines why a forward addition remains high on the agenda.
With reports suggesting Arsenal have maintained their interest in Kroupi for a January move, his return to fitness and first team action will be a significant factor to monitor over the coming weeks. Arsenal chose not to force through a marquee forward signing in the summer, and attention will now turn to whether the January window offers a different outcome.
