Arsenal's hopes of signing Eli Junior Kroupi in the January window appear remote, with TEAMtalk reporting that Bournemouth have no intention of letting the forward leave before the end of the season. The 20-year-old has been linked with the Gunners since last season, and the update — carried by both Football.London and Mirror Football on Friday — lands as Mikel Arteta's squad prepares for a congested run of fixtures.

Bournemouth's position

Football.London reported in May that Arsenal held an interest in the France forward. The same source reports that Bournemouth replied to Arsenal by saying he would not be sold, and his price is believed to be over £100million. A metatarsal problem picked up during pre-season then pushed the Gunners towards other targets.

Kroupi's recent return to fitness, combined with Arsenal's reported wish to add a marquee forward, had generated speculation about a fresh approach in January. TEAMtalk's report that Bournemouth intend to keep him for the remainder of the campaign cuts across that idea.

Kroupi sets out his ambition

The player himself has done little to dampen talk of a future move. PSG and Barcelona are reportedly among the clubs who could rival Arsenal for his signature, and Kroupi made clear where he wants to be playing. "I'm going to give my all to play for the biggest clubs in the world, in the best leagues in the world," he told DAZN France. The person said, "I don't know what would have happened."

Costa also on the radar

Both outlets also report Arsenal's interest in Porto right-back Alberto Costa. Fussball News reports that Arsenal, Manchester United and Manchester City are tracking the 23-year-old, but United are said to be more serious at this point; the Old Trafford club apparently views him as a possible improvement on Diogo Dalot due to his speed and attacking attributes.

Costa, who moved from Vitoria Guimaraes to Juventus in January 2025 and returned to Portugal that July, has featured in all but one of Porto's matches this season. His contract runs until June 2030 and contains a £54m release clause that would have to be triggered for him to leave.

Attention turns to Anfield

Domestic matters come first this weekend. Arsenal, the defending champions, sit second in the Premier League behind Manchester City on goal difference and travel to Liverpool on Sunday for a 16:30 kick-off.

They go there after a 1-1 draw at Fleetwood Town in the EFL Cup on Tuesday ended in a penalty defeat, a night that also brought Max Dowman's first senior red card.

Photo: Martin Addison via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0, resized.