£100m star keen to play for De Zerbi with Tottenham now ‘determined’ to sign him

Eli Junior Kroupi has gone from one of Europe’s brightest young prospects to one of the Premier League’s most wanted forwards, and Tottenham are firmly in the race for his signature.

The Bournemouth attacker exploded onto the scene last term, scoring 13 Premier League goals in his first full season in England despite still being only 20 years old.

Comfortable as a centre-forward, second striker or left-sided winger, Kroupi showed a maturity that belied his age. His intelligent movement, calm finishing and relentless work rate quickly made him one of the biggest success stories of the campaign.

It is easy to understand why Tottenham have become so interested.

He can stretch defences with his pace, drift into pockets of space and still arrive in the box at exactly the right moment to score, which would be a major asset to Roberto De Zerbi‘s side.

The Frenchman would also complement Dominic Solanke rather than replace him. Solanke enjoys linking play and occupying centre-backs, while Kroupi’s movement could allow him to attack the spaces created around the penalty area.

The competition is fierce, though.

PSG have admired the French youngster, while Arsenal have also monitored his development for some time.

Other reports have suggested Bournemouth would only even consider a sale for an extraordinary fee, with valuations ranging from around £85 million to as high as £100 million because the striker remains under contract until 2030 and the Cherries have no financial need to sell.

Bournemouth know exactly what they have, which is why any interested club will almost certainly have to break the bank.

Eli Junior Kroupi keen to work under De Zerbi at Tottenham

That all being said, according to TEAMtalk journalist Graeme Bailey, Tottenham have received a significant boost in their pursuit of Kroupi.

Bailey reports that the Bournemouth forward is attracted by the opportunity to work under De Zerbi, which could prove a crucial advantage, while Spurs are ‘determined’ to move for him.

Young players increasingly prioritise regular football and the chance to continue developing rather than simply joining Europe’s biggest clubs, and De Zerbi has earned a reputation for improving attacking players throughout his coaching career.

The biggest obstacle remains Bournemouth.

The south-coast club have repeatedly indicated they do not want to lose Kroupi and reports suggest it would take an astronomical offer before they even considered negotiations.

Without a release clause, Bournemouth hold almost every card.

That leaves Tottenham with a difficult decision. Do they commit close to £100 million on a player with enormous potential, or turn towards a more experienced alternative?