Football
Exclusive: Bournemouth Teen Sensation Eli Junior Kroupi Attracts Atalanta and Borussia Dortmund Interest
Teenage Bournemouth star Eli Junior Kroupi has caught the attention of top European clubs Atalanta and Borussia Dortmund. Despite Bournemouth's reluctance to sell the talented 19-year-old forward, a substantial offer could force their hand. The Cherries have a history of selling top players for the right price, as seen with recent transfers of key players. Star forward Antoine Semenyo is also on the verge of leaving for Manchester City in a £65million move.
Manchester United v Bournemouth - Premier League by Stu Forster | Getty Images
Teenage Bournemouth star Eli Junior Kroupi has attracted the interest of two top European clubs, SportsBoom can exclusively reveal.
The highly-rated 19-year-old forward has made a dazzling start to his Cherries career with seven goals in 16 Premier League games.
And the French young gun’s impressive performances have not gone unnoticed, with both Atalanta and Borussia Dortmund having expressed an interest in his services.
Our sources have learnt that Italian outfit Atalanta, who are currently sitting pretty in fifth place in the Champions League qualification places, as well as German giants Dortmund, have both reached out about a potential deal now the transfer window has re-opened for the gifted France Under-21 international.
SportsBoom have learnt that the Cherries have no intention of selling the youngster, a player they signed as cover for the then injured Evanilson.
Evanilson was a long-term absentee with an anterior cruciate ligament injury (ACL), but Kroupi fitted in seamlessly since joining for an undisclosed fee from French club Lorient.
"Junior is a finisher," said Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola.
"His strength is that he smells the opportunities. His finishing is very good with his right foot and left foot."
"He has to add more to his game. He's coming to the Premier league and we still want more things."
"If he helps us with goals it's always very welcome."
Bournemouth were also linked in December with a move for Scotland international Josh Doig, who is currently plying his trade in Italy with Sassuolo.
SUBSTANTIAL OFFER
However, despite confident they can hold on to the player, Bournemouth also know that a substantial transfer offer could force their hand to sell.
Kroupi is under contract until 2030, but the Cherries have had no issues selling a string of their top stars if the price is right.
The club pocketed £144.5million for selling left-back Milos Kerkez to Premier League champions Liverpool in the summer, while star defenders Dean Huijsen left for big money to Real Madrid and Illia Zabarnyi signed for Champions League winners Paris St-Germain in a lucrative deal.
And now star forward Antoine Semenyo is on the verge of leaving the club in a £65million move to Manchester City.
City have agreed to meet Semenyo’s hefty release clause by the deadline of 10 January, with a move imminent.
Neil has been a journalist for longer than he'd care to remember, having written for national newspapers and respected publications for over 25 years. For the last three years he has worked freelance for BBC Sport, working on the production desk as a sub-editor and also as a writer, covering a whole range of sports.