Barcelona turn to Bournemouth forward after Julian Alvarez pursuit stalls

Barcelona have revived their interest in Bournemouth forward Eli Junior Kroupi as they search for a long-term successor to Robert Lewandowski, after talks over a move for Julian Alvarez were effectively ruled out.

According to Catalan newspaper Sport, sporting director Deco has put the 20-year-old French striker back on Barcelona’s shortlist, with the club exploring options to strengthen their attack this summer.

The renewed focus on Kroupi follows Atletico Madrid’s firm refusal to negotiate over Alvarez, closing off what Barcelona had considered a priority option for the centre-forward role.

Kroupi’s breakout Premier League season

Kroupi, a France Under-21 international, enjoyed a standout debut campaign in the Premier League last season after joining Bournemouth from Lorient for €13m.

The forward scored 13 goals in 35 league appearances, a return that has propelled him into the spotlight across Europe and attracted interest from several major clubs.

Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, Arsenal, Bayern Munich and Manchester City are all monitoring the striker after his impressive first year in English football.

Barcelona see Kroupi as a potential long-term replacement for Lewandowski, but any attempt to bring him to the Camp Nou faces significant resistance from his current club.

Bournemouth take hard line over star striker

Bournemouth, who are preparing for European competition for the first time in their history, have made clear they are not willing to sanction Kroupi’s departure in this transfer window.

Tiago Pinto, the club’s president of football operations, has publicly underlined Kroupi’s importance to their project and insisted he will not be sold this summer.

Pinto has described the forward as a cornerstone of Bournemouth’s plans and stated that the club would not consider offers even in the region of €100m.

Bournemouth finished sixth in the Premier League last season under head coach Andoni Iraola, securing qualification for European competition for the first time. That achievement has reinforced the club’s determination to keep key players as they prepare for a historic campaign.

Retaining Kroupi is regarded internally as essential to maintaining momentum after what was a landmark season for the south-coast side.

Barcelona test resolve despite public denials

The stance from Bournemouth is echoed by the player’s camp. Kroupi’s agent, Moussa Sissoko, said only a few days ago that there are no ongoing negotiations with Barcelona.

Despite those denials, the Spanish club are still assessing whether the positions of both Bournemouth and the player are completely non-negotiable.

Barcelona are expected to make one last attempt to gauge whether there is any flexibility from either side, in the hope of opening the door to formal talks later in the window.

However, with Bournemouth resolute in their refusal to sell and Kroupi under a long-term contract after only one season in England, any move would be complicated and is likely to require a significant shift in the Premier League club’s position.