Barcelona divided over €100m move for Bournemouth teenager as Flick backs striker plan

Barcelona are weighing up a €100m move for Bournemouth forward Eli Junior Kroupi as an alternative to top target Julian Alvarez, with senior figures at the club split over the wisdom of investing so heavily in a 19-year-old.

The La Liga side continue to prioritise the signing of a new centre-forward, with Argentina international Alvarez still viewed as their first-choice option to lead the attack. However, ongoing complications in negotiations – imposed by Atletico Madrid, according to the report – have prompted the Catalan club to accelerate contingency plans.

Spanish newspaper Sport reports that Kroupi, who joined Bournemouth from Lorient, has re-emerged as a serious candidate. Barcelona are understood to have already made enquiries through intermediaries to clarify the French striker’s contractual situation and the financial framework required for any deal, with a self-imposed ceiling of €100m on their total investment for a new No 9.

Flick’s approval but sporting department split

Within Barcelona’s sporting hierarchy there is disagreement over whether Kroupi represents the right move at that price. One group of decision-makers is convinced the Bournemouth forward has the profile to succeed at the Camp Nou and to meet the demands of head coach Hansi Flick.

Flick is described as having given his approval in principle to signing Kroupi if a move for Alvarez cannot be completed, with the German coach placing the recruitment of an out-and-out striker at the top of his summer priorities.

The Barcelona manager is said to be particularly insistent on bringing in a forward capable of pressing opponents aggressively during the build-up phase – a characteristic the club believes Kroupi has demonstrated since his move from Lorient to the Premier League.

Concerns over price tag and age

Other influential figures inside the sporting department, however, are hesitant about committing €100m to a player of Kroupi’s age, despite his impressive first season in England.

Kroupi scored 13 goals in 35 matches for Bournemouth last term, playing a decisive role in what the report describes as a standout campaign for the club. Under Andoni Iraola, Bournemouth finished sixth in the Premier League, securing qualification for the Europa League.

Those urging caution at Barcelona argue that, while the French youth international’s numbers and performances are highly promising, the scale of the fee represents a significant risk for a club still managing a delicate financial situation.

Bournemouth reluctant to lose ‘star player’

Although the €100m figure broadly aligns with Bournemouth’s valuation, negotiations are not expected to be straightforward if Barcelona formally move for Kroupi.

The Premier League club’s hierarchy believe allowing their “star” forward to leave at this stage of the off-season would seriously disrupt planning for the new campaign. They are also concerned it would be too late to identify and secure an adequate replacement, even with roughly a month remaining before the Premier League kicks off.

That stance is likely to harden Bournemouth’s position in any talks, even if their asking price is met.

Competition from Manchester City and PSG

Kroupi’s displays – marked, according to the report, by his effectiveness, pace, versatility and work-rate – have also attracted interest from Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain.

Both clubs are monitoring the France Under-21 international, but Sport suggests Kroupi would give priority to Barcelona should the Spanish club make a concrete offer.

One factor potentially working in Barcelona’s favour is that Kroupi is not currently regarded as a leading attacking option for either Enzo Maresca at Manchester City or Luis Enrique at Paris Saint-Germain. That could leave a clearer path for the Catalan side if they decide to move beyond preliminary soundings and formally commit to the deal.

For now, Barcelona’s pursuit of a new striker remains finely balanced: Alvarez continues to be the preferred choice, but Flick’s desire for a pressing centre-forward – and the mixed views behind the scenes – means Kroupi has become a central figure in the club’s ongoing transfer debate.