Barcelona's Plan B centre‑forward hopes dim after injury

Barcelona's hunt for a new centre‑forward has hit a major setback after Bournemouth striker Eli Junior Kroupi suffered a pre‑season fracture, ruling him out for three to four months and leaving the Catalan club without its preferred Plan B should Julian Álvarez move elsewhere.

Barcelona are searching for a new centre‑forward as they anticipate the possible loss of Julian Álvarez. The club have identified Eli Junior Kroupi as their preferred Plan B. Reports say Barcelona submitted two offers for the France Under‑21 international, both rejected by Bournemouth.

Kroupi suffered a fracture to his fifth metatarsal during Bournemouth’s pre‑season training camp in Austria. He underwent surgery on Wednesday to address the injury.

Medical assessments estimate a three‑ to four‑month recovery period. Consequently, he is unlikely to be available before late October or November.

The same type of injury sidelined Barcelona’s Fermin Lopez towards the end of last season, just before the World Cup.

The 20‑year‑old forward scored 13 league goals for Bournemouth in his first full season. Five of those goals came in the final eight matches of the campaign. He finished as the club’s top scorer under manager Andoni Iraola and helped secure Europa League qualification.

Kroupi’s performances have attracted interest from several of Europe’s biggest clubs. Barcelona’s sporting department praise his age, potential and ability to operate as a central striker, qualities that align with Hansi Flick’s long‑term plans.

His lengthy absence could force the Catalan side to rethink its transfer strategy. Should the pursuit of Julian Álvarez fall through, Barcelona may need to explore other options before the transfer window closes.

With Kroupi unavailable until at least October, the club faces uncertainty over how to fill the centre‑forward role for the upcoming season. The injury therefore adds a significant obstacle to Barcelona’s recruitment agenda.