Arsenal have been eyeing an alternative to Julian Alvarez following their failed pursuit of the Argentine striker

Arsenal target Eli Junior Kroupi has taken a major step in his return from injury by taking part in Bournemouth’s training session.

The 20-year-old forward has been linked with Arsenal since last season. football.london revealed in May that the north Londoners were interested in the talented Frenchman, even before his goal against Manchester City handed them the title.

Kroupi, who scored 13 goals in his first Premier League campaign, emerged as a key target of Mikel Arteta’s in the summer as the English champions prioritised signing a marquee forward. However, their pursuit fell short after the Cherries insisted their talisman was not for sale, believing he would benefit from another season with them and their position being strengthened after securing European football.

That, along with the Frenchman’s foot injury sustained in pre-season, led the Gunners to prioritise other targets, including Julian Alvarez. Arsenal maintained their interest in the Atletico Madrid striker until the very end of the transfer window in the hope that he would change his mind and agree to join Arteta’s side.

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Alvarez had been very vocal about Barcelona being his preferred destination. After Atletico repeatedly blocked the move, he opted to remain in the Spanish capital rather than returning to England, despite being booed by his own fans for going on strike.

While Arteta still holds the Argentine in high regard, a move to Arsenal in January appears even less likely now following his full integration into the squad. Manager Diego Simeone has recently praised Alvarez’s application level, which finally resulted in him scoring his first goal of the season this week.

But Arsenal’s need for a forward signing hasn’t diminished, as shown by the fact they have scored comfortably fewer goals than any other top-four team in the league this season. There have been reports of their interest in signing Kroupi in January too.

Kroupi, who is said to be valued at around £90-100million, is under contract until 2030. The France Under-21s ace underwent surgery on his foot in July. Yet, Bournemouth boss Marco Rose confirmed the forward was back in training this week and could feature in the game against Manchester United this Sunday.

That provides Arsenal with a boost if they decide to go all in on the player in the January transfer window, given that he is set to return to fitness and showcase his abilities once more. The Gunners kept their powder dry in the summer after falling short of landing a big-money signing.