FC Lorient’s promising teenager Eli Junior Kroupi is poised to remain at the club as negotiations with Premier League side Bournemouth have stalled.
According to RMC Sport’s Fabrice Hawkins, Bournemouth made an offer of €12 million plus bonuses for the talented 18-year-old forward, but the two clubs could not come to terms on the final fee.
Bournemouth’s strategy was to secure Kroupi with just 18 months remaining on his contract and then loan him back to Lorient. However, despite the shared ownership of both clubs by American businessman Bill Foley, a deal could not be finalized.
Born in Lorient, Brittany, Eli Junior Kroupi is the son of former Ivory Coast international Éli Kroupi, who played as a professional for FC Lorient, where Junior started playing football.
Junior Kroupi started playing with the National 2 reserve team in the end of the 2021–22 season.
He signed his first professional contract with the club on the summer 2022.
Currently atop Ligue 2, Lorient are eyeing an immediate return to France’s top flight following their relegation last season.
