Barcelona’s search for a new forward has become a Plan B story. Fabrizio Romano says the club have opened talks for Eli Junior Kroupi after the Julián Alvarez pursuit ran into trouble with Atletico Madrid, but Bournemouth are not making it simple.
Bournemouth are not moving
Romano’s line on the situation is blunt enough. Barcelona have spoken to people close to Kroupi and also to Bournemouth about him, but Bournemouth “don’t want to sell the player this summer.”
That is the obstacle now. Romano also said Bournemouth insist on keeping Kroupi at the club this summer, which leaves Barcelona trying to solve one difficult forward chase by starting another.
Why Barcelona want him anyway
The interest is easy to understand. Kroupi scored 13 goals in 33 Premier League games last season, a strong return for a 20-year-old forward who joined Bournemouth in early 2025 for £10 million from Lorient.
There was a different version of his club record in some reporting, with 13 goals in 35 appearances and a €15 million fee mentioned elsewhere. The more solid line, and the one that fits the Bournemouth coverage here, is 13 goals in 33 Premier League games and a £10 million move.
Romano also said Manchester City are watching the situation, which tells you this is not just Barcelona chasing a depth option. Bournemouth finished 6th in the 2025 Premier League season with 57 points, so they have no obvious reason to rush a sale.
Kroupi’s profile still explains why the phone keeps ringing. He has 4 goals in his last 10 matches, and his 13-goal league season gives Barcelona a forward who has already shown he can deliver in England. The problem is not whether there is interest. It is whether Bournemouth will let it get anywhere near a fee.
Written by Daniel Hartley with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 5 outlets. How we work →
