Barcelona is pressing hard to solve their striker problem, with Argentine Julian Alvarez remaining the primary target. However, Atlético Madrid’s resistance has complicated matters, prompting Barca to explore an alternative plan.
Spanish media report that 19-year-old Bournemouth forward Eli Junior Kroupi is back on Barcelona’s radar. The club has already contacted those close to the player regarding his contract terms, aiming to keep the transfer fee under €100 million.
Within Barcelona’s sporting department, opinions are divided. One faction believes Kroupi ticks all boxes for coach Hansi Flick, who supports the move should the Alvarez deal fall through. Flick prioritizes a forward who relentlessly presses opponents during build-up play, a key trait Kroupi offers.
Others in the department are more cautious. They view spending €100 million on a 19-year-old as a gamble, despite Kroupi’s impressive campaign where he scored 13 goals in 35 Premier League matches and helped Bournemouth finish sixth, qualifying for the Europa League.
Bournemouth’s hierarchy is reluctant to lose their star player now, fearing it would disrupt their preparations for the new season with only a month remaining before the Premier League kick-off.
Besides Barcelona, both Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain have shown interest, but Barca holds an advantage if they pursue the France under-21 international seriously, since he is not a priority target for Manchester City’s coach Enzo Maresca or PSG’s Luis Enrique.
Barcelona continues its active search for a solution up front, balancing efforts to land Julián Álvarez while considering promising alternatives like Kroupi.
