Barcelona are reportedly turning to Bournemouth striker Eli Junior Kroupi as a potential replacement for Robert Lewandowski, who left the club at the end of last season. The 20-year-old had an impressive debut campaign in English football, catching the attention of several European giants.
Barcelona's Striker Search Intensifies
With only Julián Alvarez as their current senior striker—the Argentine scored the World Cup final winner—Barcelona are desperate for reinforcements. Alvarez is at the centre of a transfer tug-of-war between Barcelona and Real Madrid, with Atlético Madrid rejecting a £129m bid from Madrid in June. Barcelona president Joan Laporta has been unable to negotiate with Atlético, prompting him to explore other options.
Bournemouth have insisted Kroupi is not for sale, but reports value the striker at £110m, a typical price for a promising young Premier League talent. Paris Saint-Germain, Arsenal, and Tottenham are also monitoring the situation. Chelsea's João Pedro is considered an unrealistic Plan C, while Danny Welbeck is a potential Plan D.
Other Transfer Rumours
Tottenham's spending spree has caught the eye of Manchester City winger Savinho, who is reportedly keen to swap City's silverware for a move to north London. Meanwhile, Jack Grealish has been omitted from City's pre-season tour of Asia, casting doubt on his future. Manager Enzo Maresca was non-committal, stating: "At the moment, he is here."
Crystal Palace are considering a bid for Lens midfielder Mamadou Sangaré, but Brentford are in advanced talks for a £41m move for the 24-year-old Mali international. Palace have yet to spend this summer, with free agent Óscar Mingueza their only signing. Former Arsenal defender Takehiro Tomiyasu is training with Conference League winners with a view to a free transfer.
Fulham remain interested in Real Madrid striker Gonzalo García, but the asking price of over £50m may be prohibitive. Madrid's Franco Mastantuono is also on their shortlist.
Barcelona's next pre-season opponents, Birmingham City, have signed Luis Vásquez ahead of their friendly at St Andrew's on Friday.
