Tottenham’s attacking rebuild under Roberto De Zerbi is picking up steam, with the club now chasing another forward to bolster their frontline. Persistent injury issues for Dominic Solanke over the last two seasons, plus lingering doubts over Richarlison’s future, have left Spurs light on reliable central options — a problem made worse by long spells on the sidelines for Mohammed Kudus and James Maddison last season. The club is keen not to leave De Zerbi short-handed the way past managers have been.
That search has landed on Eli Junior Kroupi, the highly-rated young Frenchman who’s been consistently linked with a move to north London, with fresh reporting now coming out of Spain.
Spanish outlet Sport claims De Zerbi is personally pushing Tottenham to speed up their pursuit of Kroupi, with the club said to be prepared to pay as much as £86 million. Spurs are reportedly readying a serious push to beat out competition from PSG, Barcelona, and Arsenal — and the report suggests they may actually hold the upper hand despite that star-studded field.
On credibility: Sport is a respected Spanish sports paper closely tied to Barcelona and La Liga coverage, but its track record on Premier League transfer news is more hit-or-miss. These claims are worth treating as informed speculation rather than confirmed fact until corroborated by more established international sources.
Financially, an £86m deal would make Kroupi one of Tottenham’s priciest signings ever, though the fee would likely be spread over several years with modest starting wages topped up by performance bonuses — a big spend, but a manageable one.
As for the player himself, Kroupi is regarded as one of France’s brightest young forwards, known for his smart movement and composure in front of goal. He broke through at Lorient and adjusted quickly to a higher level, and his versatility across attacking positions — paired with technical quality and maturity beyond his years — marks him as a potential star. He could add real thrust to Tottenham’s attack, thriving between the lines and combining well with teammates, and his flexibility would suit De Zerbi’s system perfectly.
The other suitors carry question marks: PSG’s squad is packed with competition for places, Barcelona’s finances are shaky and their priority target is reportedly Julián Álvarez, and Arsenal’s interest looks fairly limited. Tottenham, by contrast, can offer a clearer path to first-team football — and Sport itself reportedly expects Kroupi to choose Spurs.
That combination — regular minutes, a tactical fit, and a manager actively pushing for the deal — is what puts Tottenham in pole position. Kroupi isn’t a traditional target man but a mobile, intelligent forward who thrives on clever positioning and quick combination play, equally happy drifting wide or dropping deeper to link the attack. He’d be a smart addition even at a premium fee, giving De Zerbi a versatile option to rotate without breaking the team’s rhythm — and with 13 goals in his debut Premier League season as a teenager, his best years still look to be ahead of him.
