Arsenal forward target nearing injury return ahead of January window
Arsenal's long standing interest in a January forward signing has been handed a boost, with Bournemouth target Eli Junior Kroupi taking a major step in his recovery from a foot injury by returning to full training this week.
The 20 year old Frenchman has been firmly on Arsenal's radar since last season, with football.london revealing back in May that the club held an interest in the forward even before his goal against Manchester City effectively sealed the Premier League title for Arsenal last term.
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Kroupi emerged as priority target in summer
Kroupi scored 13 goals in his first Premier League campaign and became a key target for Mikel Arteta over the summer as Arsenal looked to prioritise a marquee forward signing. That pursuit ultimately fell short, with Bournemouth insisting their talisman was not for sale, reportedly believing he would benefit from another season at the club following their qualification for European football.
The Frenchman's foot injury, sustained in pre-season, also played a part in Arsenal shifting their focus elsewhere, most notably towards Julian Alvarez. The Gunners maintained interest in the Atletico Madrid striker right up until deadline day, hoping he would have a change of heart, but Alvarez had made clear his preference for a move to Barcelona. After Atletico blocked that switch, he opted to stay in Madrid rather than join Arsenal, despite being booed by his own supporters for going on strike over the situation.
With Diego Simeone having since praised Alvarez's application and the Argentine scoring his first goal of the season this week, a January move to Arsenal now appears unlikely following his full reintegration into the Atletico squad.
Goal shortage keeps forward search alive
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 continues to fuel reports linking them with a January move for Kroupi.
Kroupi, valued at around £90-100million, is under contract at Bournemouth until 2030 and underwent surgery on his foot in July. Bournemouth manager Marco Rose confirmed this week that the forward is back in training and could even feature against Manchester United this Sunday.
His return to fitness and form will be watched closely at Arsenal, who held their nerve in the summer rather than rush into a big money deal for a forward. Whether that patience translates into a concrete move in January remains to be seen, but Kroupi's recovery timeline will be central to any renewed approach.
