Eli Junior Kroupi faces months on the sidelines after surgery on a fractured foot.
Arsenal target Eli Junior Kroupi is set for an extended spell on the sidelines after undergoing surgery on a fractured foot, dealing a significant blow to both the player and Bournemouth ahead of the new season.
The 20-year-old sustained the injury during Bournemouth’s pre-season trip to Austria before returning to England for treatment.
He underwent surgery on Wednesday and is expected to be out for between three and four months.
The setback comes after an impressive breakthrough campaign in which Kroupi scored 13 Premier League goals in his first full season in England (with five assists).
Five of those strikes came across Bournemouth’s final eight league matches as they finished sixth, secured qualification for the Europa League under former head coach Andoni Iraola, and ended Manchester City’s Premier League title hopes.
His performances attracted widespread interest, with Arsenal among the clubs credited with serious interest in the versatile French forward, who is capable of playing through the middle or from the left.
Arsenal’s admiration for Kroupi has been well documented, but any deal always looked difficult.
Bournemouth have made it clear they do not want to sell, while the forward remains under a long-term contract, does not have a release clause, and has made it clear he wants PSG if he does move.
Reports have suggested Bournemouth’s valuation ranges from around £50 million to well beyond £80 million, while Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City have also been linked with the France youth international.
His injury is unlikely to alter Bournemouth’s stance, although it does seem to remove one of the summer’s most sought-after young forwards from the market.
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