Bournemouth send Arsenal firm message over £64m-rated duo

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Arsenal have been told that neither Alex Scott nor Eli Junior Kroupi will be available when the January transfer window opens, according to a report from BBC Sport.

Both Bournemouth players were linked with moves to the Emirates Stadium during the summer, and both ended up staying on the south coast despite heavy speculation surrounding their futures.

Now, with the New Year window approaching and the Gunners already being connected to fresh targets, the Cherries have made their stance clear: no exits for either player in January.

Chelsea's £64m bid rejected

Scott is the name that has attracted the most concrete interest. BBC Sport report that Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool all hold an interest in the midfielder, but that a deal looks unlikely based on Bournemouth's position.

Chelsea are reported to have tabled a £64million bid for Scott in an attempt to get a deal over the line, only for that offer to be turned down. The Blues had been hunting a new midfielder before the summer window shut, with Monaco's Lamine Camara identified as a target to replace Enzo Fernandez, who joined Manchester City on deadline day for £125million.

Scott himself is reported to have explored a move away from Bournemouth in the summer, with the Cherries seeing two attempts to agree a contract extension knocked back. Xabi Alonso's side could return to the market in January, though it remains unclear whether that would mean another push for Scott.

Manchester United have also been mentioned as a potential destination for both players, underlining how much competition there would be should Bournemouth soften their position further down the line.

Kroupi sidelined until November

Kroupi's situation is slightly different. The versatile forward picked up an injury during pre-season that is expected to keep him out until around November, which effectively ended any talk of a summer departure before it could gather momentum.

Arsenal's interest in Kroupi came as the club reshaped its attacking department over the summer. Leandro Trossard, Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus all departed the Emirates, with Christos Tzolis arriving as the only new forward brought in as a replacement.

That turnover leaves the forward line as an obvious area the Gunners could look to address in January, and Kroupi had been viewed as a candidate to add depth and flexibility across the front line.

For now, though, the message from Bournemouth is unambiguous. Both Arsenal and Chelsea may have to turn their attention elsewhere as they finalise their plans for the winter window.

The window opens at the start of the New Year, and the next few weeks will determine whether the Gunners pursue alternative options or test Bournemouth's resolve regardless.