Eli Junior Kroupi—a 20-year-old forward developed at Lorient, currently at Bournemouth (under contract until 2030) and a member of the France U21 squad—is among the players linked to Paris Saint-Germain for the transfer window. L’Équipe reported on Tuesday that FC Barcelona has indeed made a move, as recently observed. However, PSG remains in the mix for this high-value target.
“PSG is lying in wait and moving quietly in the background”
“The Frenchman Eli Junior Kroupi is a priority target for the Blaugrana; in recent days, Barça sporting director Deco has launched a bid after manager Hansi Flick—impressed by the player’s qualities—approved the profile.
According to our information, two offers—both below €100 million—were submitted to Bournemouth. Both were rejected. Several sources indicate that Kroupi would be thrilled to join Barça and has expressed this desire to his representatives. Meanwhile, the English club continues to turn down all offers, though without being entirely convincing. PSG remains in the hunt, quietly working on the deal in the background.”
As always during the transfer window, a degree of caution is required. Some media outlets jump the gun, agents leak information to spice up negotiations or apply pressure, and clubs use rumors to their advantage. Consequently, it is difficult to be certain without concrete evidence. That said, it is entirely plausible that both PSG and Barça are interested in Kroupi—as are other clubs—given the player’s immense promise.
Offers may well be submitted, but nothing is guaranteed—let alone an agreement. Bournemouth has made it clear that they do not wish to sell the player. This stance could shift if high figures come into play—which is precisely the aim of stating it so clearly. However, one thing is crystal clear: the English club would prefer to keep Kroupi. The player himself has expressed no desire to leave, and talk linking him to various destinations seems premature; while he might well be interested in moves to PSG, Barça, or the like, nothing is set in stone.
We will have to wait and see, particularly given PSG’s preference for working discreetly. Many scenarios are possible, and we must wait for the Parisian club to fully execute its plan before the picture becomes clear. There is no cause for alarm, however, as a month of the transfer window remains; the key is simply to maintain some perspective.
