Arsenal target Kroupi nears return as Alvarez move fades further
Arsenal’s pursuit of a new forward is set for a boost, with Bournemouth target Eli Junior Kroupi taking a major step in his recovery from a foot injury by returning to 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 him even before his dramatic goal against Manchester City effectively handed Arsenal the Premier League title.
The Friday Injury Tracker
Who's out, who's back and what it means for the next two games.
Kroupi scored 13 goals in his first top flight campaign and emerged as a key target for Mikel Arteta over the summer as Arsenal prioritised landing a marquee forward. However, Bournemouth stood firm and refused to sell their talisman, believing he would benefit from another season on the south coast, particularly with the club having secured European football.
That stance, combined with the foot injury Kroupi picked up in pre-season which required surgery in July, led Arsenal to shift their focus elsewhere, most notably towards Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez.
Alvarez move growing increasingly unlikely
Arsenal kept tabs on Alvarez right up until deadline day, hoping the Argentine would have a change of heart. Alvarez had made no secret of his preference for a move to Barcelona, and after Atletico blocked that switch, he chose to stay in Madrid rather than head to England, despite being booed by his own supporters for effectively going on strike.
While Arteta is understood to still rate Alvarez highly, a January move now looks even less probable. He has since been fully reintegrated into the Atletico squad, with manager Diego Simeone praising his attitude, a shift that finally yielded Alvarez’s first goal of the season this week.
Arsenal’s goal shortage keeps forward search alive
Arsenal’s need for attacking reinforcement has not gone away. The club has scored comfortably fewer goals than any other top four side in the Premier League this season, and there have been reports linking them with a fresh move for Kroupi in January.
Kroupi, who is under contract at Bournemouth until 2030, is said to be valued at around £90 to £100 million. Bournemouth boss Marco Rose confirmed this week that the forward is back in training and could even feature against Manchester United.
His return to fitness and form would represent timely news for Arsenal, who opted against making a marquee forward signing over the summer and will be keen to see Kroupi showcase his abilities once again before any potential January move materialises.
