Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly become Barcelona’s biggest worry in the race to land highly rated Bournemouth forward Eli Junior Kroupi, with Roberto De Zerbi’s side pushing hard for one of European football’s most exciting young talents.
Spurs are keen to bolster their attacking options ahead of the new campaign, and Kroupi has emerged as a priority target as De Zerbi looks to bring in another lively forward for his developing squad. Recent reports suggest Tottenham believe they hold an edge over several major European clubs by offering the French teenager something few rivals can match — a genuine route to becoming the team’s main striker. The north London club are also said to be readying an opening offer, a sign of how serious their interest has become.
Reports from Spain indicate Barcelona have also made Kroupi a top target as they look to add firepower up front, with the Catalan club reportedly seeing him as a backup option should their move for Atlético Madrid’s Julián Álvarez fall through. Barcelona are said to be well aware of the competition, with Paris Saint-Germain, Arsenal and Tottenham all keeping close tabs on the situation. Bournemouth are thought to be reluctant to sell to another Premier League rival, but that hasn’t put Spurs off — in fact, the report claims Barcelona now see Tottenham as their toughest competitor for his signature.
Much of that concern reportedly stems from De Zerbi’s own determination to bring the 19-year-old to the club, with the Italian said to view him as a potentially transformative addition to his long-term plans.
For now, Bournemouth are holding firm on their stance that Kroupi isn’t for sale. The striker still has four years left on his deal and no release clause, giving the Cherries plenty of leverage. Even so, there’s a growing sense among those close to the player that the south-coast club could be swayed by the right offer — with suggestions a bid nearing €100 million (£85 million) might be enough to get talks moving.
Tottenham are aware that winning over Bournemouth will be the hardest part of any deal, but they don’t appear ready to walk away. With De Zerbi driving the pursuit and Barcelona now viewing Spurs as their sharpest rival, the fight for Kroupi looks set to become one of the summer’s most closely followed sagas. Whether Tottenham are willing to meet Bournemouth’s asking price remains to be seen, but their appetite for landing the young forward shows no sign of cooling.
