Arsenal could face some tough competition in the hunt for one of their striker targets this summer – because according to Sport, Barcelona are also on the hunt for a deal.
The Gunners are in the market for a new centre-forward, despite signing Viktor Gyökeres from Sporting CP last year. The Swede scored 21 goals in all competitions and contributed important goals, but Arsenal are still looking for an extra clinical finisher in the long term.
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One candidate is Eli Junior Kroupi – but now they face even tougher opposition in the battle for his signature.
Barcelona want Kroupi
Arsenal have been linked with Bournemouth striker Kroupi, who impressed greatly in his debut season in the Premier League with 13 goals – only 20 years old.
Bournemouth have set a price tag of over £100 million to let him go, but Barcelona also want the Frenchman as a potential option this summer. – Barcelona has managed to pay off an incredible 400 million euros of its billion-dollar debt and has in the last three years delivered a profit on operations in addition to having used “financial levers” when things were at their toughest. With a bigger and more modern Camp Nou, Barcelona are putting in almost €2 million more a week in revenue and with two straight La Liga golds, we will see a more active club in the transfer market going forward.
Kroupi is seen as Barcelona’s “Plan B” if they fail to reach a deal for Julián Álvarez – a transfer saga that is still going on in the public eye.
That could put Arsenal in a difficult position, as they are also working on strengthening their midfield. It remains to be seen if Barcelona will make an offer – and if it will be enough to convince Bournemouth to sell.
But it can actually play Arsenal in her as well.
Álvarez to Arsenal could be relevant
If Barcelona instead go for Kroupi, it could close the door on Álvarez – and thus open the door to a possible deal between Arsenal and Atlético Madrid.
Álvarez has been a target for Arsenal for some time, but as of now, a transfer seems unlikely as he pushes to go to Barcelona. If the Catalans instead go for Kroupi, the road to Álvarez could be clear for Mikel Arteta’s men.
How realistic that is remains to be seen – Atlético Madrid insist that they will not sell this summer. But the transfer market tends to surprise.
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