Tottenham warned Manchester United could hijack £85m Eli Junior Kroupi move

Tottenham Hotspur have been warned that Manchester United could provide serious competition for Eli Junior Kroupi as the race for the Bournemouth striker intensifies.

Spurs are reportedly preparing an opening offer for the 20-year-old, who scored 13 Premier League goals last season. Arsenal have also shown interest, while European football expert Andy Brassell believes Kroupi would be an excellent fit for Michael Carrick’s Manchester United.

Bournemouth, however, insist their striker is not for sale and could demand around £85 million before reconsidering their position.

Tottenham’s interest comes during a major summer rebuild under Roberto De Zerbi.

Spurs have already spent heavily on Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes, while Jan Paul van Hecke has also arrived as part of the squad overhaul. A new striker remains on the agenda after Randal Kolo Muani failed to provide the reliable source of goals Tottenham needed last season.

Kroupi has now emerged as a leading option.

The France Under-21 international made an immediate impact following his move from Lorient to Bournemouth, scoring 13 goals in 33 league appearances. His movement and finishing have particularly impressed Brassell.

“If Eli Junior Kroupi can make the right move this summer, he can be one of the best goal scorers in the Premier League.”

Brassell believes Kroupi’s intelligent movement and ability to finish with both feet make him a natural fit for De Zerbi’s football.

The striker is still developing his involvement outside the penalty area, but his goalscoring instincts have already made him one of the Premier League’s most valuable young forwards.

That combination of current production and future potential explains why Bournemouth can demand such a significant fee.

Brassell even suggested that, with the right development, Kroupi could eventually produce numbers comparable to former Manchester City striker Sergio Agüero.

That is a major projection for a player with only one Premier League season behind him, and it remains too early to draw firm conclusions. However, 13 goals in his first campaign explains why Tottenham are prepared to explore a major investment.

Tottenham are not alone.

Arsenal have already been linked with Kroupi, while Manchester United have now been identified as another potentially strong destination. Brassell believes the Bournemouth striker could thrive under Carrick as United continue reshaping their attack.

“I think he would be absolutely great at Manchester United as they seek to progress their game under Michael Carrick.”

For Tottenham, that creates the risk of a wider Premier League battle if they fail to move quickly.

Bournemouth remain in a powerful position. Kroupi is already producing at Premier League level and will have the opportunity to increase his reputation further in European competition next season.

The Cherries can therefore demand a huge fee now or keep the striker and potentially see his value rise again.

Tottenham must decide how aggressively they want to pursue Kroupi, with Bournemouth showing no desire to sell and rival interest threatening to complicate negotiations.

An opening Spurs offer would test the Cherries’ position, but Manchester United or Arsenal entering the race could push the price even higher. Bournemouth can also choose to keep Kroupi for their European campaign and gamble on his value increasing further.

Should Tottenham spend £85 million on Eli Junior Kroupi before Manchester United or Arsenal make their move?