West Ham United unlikely to land Eli Junior Kroupi

West Ham United wanted to sign 18-year-old French attacking sensation Eli Junior Kroupi from FC Lorient in a deal worth £35 million in the winter transfer window.

According to a report by Sky Sports journalist Dharmesh Sheth, Eli Junior Kroupi is the subject of interest from West Ham United. The Hammers were keen on signing the FC Lorient wonderkid in a deal worth £35 million in the winter transfer window. However, the deal for the French attacking prospect will unlikely see the light of day.

Who is Eli Junior Kroupi?

Eli Junior Kroupi has emerged as the latest highly-rated prospect to rise in prominence in his homeland. French football has been the breeding ground for promising prodigies for several years, with several top-notch talents seeing their stocks soar every season.

The 18-year-old is a native of Lorient, and he has spent his formative years with FC Lorient, joining the Ligue 2 club as a seven-year-old in 2013. Since then, the Frenchman has come leaps and bounds, establishing himself as one of the best young prospects in his homeland.

The French attacking sensation broke into the first-team squad at FC Lorient towards the end of the 2022/23 season and has grown in stature since then. The youngster has turned out over 50 times thus far for the Ligue 2 club while chipping in with 15 goals and five assists. Meanwhile, Kroupi’s progress has not gone unnoticed, alerting several well-known clubs across Europe.

London calling?

Premier League bigwigs, in particular, have been keen on signing Eli Junior Kroupi, with recent reports linking him with Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur. However, West Ham United wanted to beat the competition to the young Frenchman’s signature in the winter transfer window.

West Ham United’s interest in the teenage sensation is understandable. With Niclas Fullkrug and Michail Antonio on the sidelines for the foreseeable future, Danny Ings is the only out-and-out striker in Graham Potter’s squad. So, the FC Lorient wonderkid emerged as a viable target for West Ham, with the East London club hoping to sign him in a deal worth £35 million.

However, a deal will unlikely see the light of day, even though an agreement worth £35 million might have helped FC Lorient’s finances. The Hammers are “awaiting a decision from Lorient owner Loic Fery”. In the meantime, West Ham will likely sign a striker, with Evan Ferguson on the verge of arriving from Brighton & Hove Albion.

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