Tottenham Hotspur is preparing an £85 million bid for Bournemouth's Eli Junior Kroupi, but Bournemouth insists the 20-year-old is not for sale. Arsenal also interested.
Tottenham Hotspur is preparing an £85 million bid for Bournemouth forward Eli Junior Kroupi, signaling a major spending spree under manager Roberto De Zerbi. However, Bournemouth has made it clear the 20-year-old is not for sale this summer, according to reports from talkSPORT.
The impending offer is designed to test Bournemouth's resolve, as the Cherries publicly maintain their star striker will stay. Alex Crook, talkSPORT's chief football correspondent, confirmed the development: “Tottenham are preparing a potential £85million bid for Junior Kroupi to try and test Bournemouth’s resolve that he is not for sale this summer. …the message coming out of the south coast is that Kroupi is not for sale this summer.”
“Tottenham are preparing a potential £85million bid for Junior Kroupi to try and test Bournemouth’s resolve that he is not for sale this summer.” — Alex Crook, talkSPORT
Bournemouth’s firm stance on Kroupi mirrors their handling of Alex Scott, another highly rated young talent also subject to interest from Arsenal. The club values both players as foundational pieces for their Premier League ambitions.
Arsenal has also been monitoring Kroupi, adding competition for his signature. The France Under-21 international made an immediate impact in his debut Premier League season, scoring 13 goals in 33 appearances for Bournemouth.
His goal tally places him among the most productive young forwards in the division, a remarkable achievement for a 20-year-old adjusting to English football. Arsenal’s interest underscores the demand for his profile — a clinical finisher with room to grow.
While Arsenal have made inquiries, it is Tottenham who are now preparing a concrete bid, looking to outpace their North London rivals in securing Kroupi's services.
At just 20, Kroupi has already established himself as a key figure in Bournemouth's attack, blending physicality with composure beyond his years. His debut season output — 13 goals in a mid-table side — signals a forward capable of thriving at the highest level.
His age and trajectory make him one of the most promising strikers in European football, a fact not lost on top clubs seeking long-term investments. Bournemouth’s resistance to selling is logical: losing Kroupi would strip their squad of a proven asset with years of prime performance ahead.
If Tottenham succeed in their bid, it would mark another statement in a summer that has already seen them spend heavily on players like Mateus Fernandes, Sandro Tonali, and Jan Paul van Hecke — as noted in our coverage of the James Trafford transfer race, where Tottenham also led the chase. A move for Kroupi would likely trigger Richarlison's departure, reshaping De Zerbi's attack entirely.