If FC Barcelona can’t secure the marquee signature of Julian Alvarez, then the board already have a dangerous, blistering backup in mind. Eli Junior Kroupi is Plan B. The 20-year-old AFC Bournemouth star has taken the Premier League by storm this season, and a monstrous €70m transfer has been discussed for the talented teenager.
While going for a 20-year-old might sound a gamble for some fans, the metrics and style of play offered by Kroupi make this a truly calculated risk.
Kroupi's statisitics
Premier League surprise Kroupi has been absolutely ruthless this season. He has only played 1,683 minutes in the Premier League, but has banged in 13 goals for AFC Bournemouth in the campaign. To average an insane 0.70 goals per 90, Kroupi sits right at the top of all European forwards. But that doesn't tell the whole story. The 20-year-old's incredible shot conversion rate at the Cherries' is off the charts.
He has hit just shy of 28% of all his shots into the net, not only a Premier League best this season, but among the highest for any teenager.
This means that Kroupi, despite not having many shots (XG: 8.40), has outperformed his predicted goal tally massively.
Fit for Barca?
Kroupi might be the false nine that Barca need. Barcelona's most successful squads in the past have built around the technical excellence of forwards, and Kroupi offers this in spades.
The French sensation predominantly plays as a centre forward, but when deployed as a false 9 within a 4-2-3-1 system, it is where his game blossoms. Kroupi is effective at dropping into pockets of space in the midfield to connect with teammates and orchestrate attacks.
He has often been compared to the likes of Roberto Firmino and Christopher Nkunku due to his vision and his low centre of gravity. So, a move to the Camp Nou could allow him to link up seamlessly with Pedri and Lamine Yamal, while also giving him the space and opportunity to stretch defenses with runs in behind.
The €70m question for Barcelona’s board
Whilst Kroupi’s ability to find the net is clear and evident with his high conversion rate, maintaining this across multiple seasons would be remarkable. Moreover, scouts feel that the young prospect will need to improve his hold-up play against more physically dominant central defenders, and his Aerial duels aren't anything to shout home about.
If Julian Alvarez represents immediate finished product, Eli Junior Kroupi represents the next generation of dominant forward play. If the €70m transfer goes through, the Blaugrana will have snagged one of the most potent transitional forwards in world football.
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