Liverpool are entering a new era under head coach Andoni Iraola, who has been confirmed as the replacement for the departing Arne Slot at Anfield.
The change came after a turbulent Premier League season in which Liverpool’s title defence collapsed, with the club winning just 17 of their 38 league games compared to 25 the season prior.
Arne Slot’s points-per-match average dropped sharply from 2.21 in his debut campaign to just 1.58, painting a clear picture of a side that drastically regressed under his second season in charge.
With Mohamed Salah having played his final match at Anfield, Liverpool are now actively seeking attacking reinforcements to fill the void left by their talismanic Egyptian winger.
RB Leipzig teenager Yan Diomande, hailed as a “generational talent” by journalist Bence Bocsák, remains a primary target after scoring 13 goals and providing ten assists in all competitions this past season.
However, according to The i Paper, Liverpool are also interested in signing Eli Junior Kroupi from Bournemouth, with the Cherries valuing the 19-year-old forward at £100m and considering him unsellable.
Chelsea and Manchester City are also credited with interest in Kroupi, meaning Liverpool face a fierce battle should Bournemouth soften their stance on the French forward this summer.
Kroupi joined Bournemouth last summer after a prolific spell at Lorient in France, and has adapted to Premier League football without any visible difficulty, scoring 13 goals in his debut season.
His record is historically remarkable, with no teenager in Premier League history having scored more goals in their debut campaign, surpassing previous benchmarks set by the likes of Robbie Fowler and Robbie Keane.
Pundit Daniel Sturridge has already declared Kroupi “one of the best finishers in the Premier League,” a bold but arguably justified assessment given the youngster’s 25% conversion rate this season.
That conversion rate stacks up impressively against other elite forwards, with Hugo Ekitike, for example, converting just 17% of his chances across the same period.
Described by GOAL as “the next Mbappe,” Kroupi has shown a natural instinct in front of goal that Liverpool have visibly lacked in recent months and desperately need to rediscover.
The fact that Iraola previously managed Kroupi at Bournemouth could prove to be a significant advantage for Liverpool in any potential transfer pursuit this summer.
Diomande possesses immense strength, physicality, and athleticism, and many believe his qualities make him an ideal fit for Iraola’s system as a long-term successor to Salah on the right flank.
That said, Diomande has yet to test himself in English football, a challenge that should not be underestimated given how difficult Premier League adaptation has proven for even elite talents arriving from abroad.
Kroupi, by contrast, is already established at the top level of English football, offering Iraola immediate impact rather than a transitional period as the new head coach beds his squad in.
Liverpool will be unable to sign every forward on their shortlist, but Kroupi’s Premier League pedigree and goal-scoring record suggest he could represent the most reliable of their available options.
Whether FSG are willing to meet Bournemouth’s £100m valuation remains the central question, though the price tag itself implies the Cherries would consider a sale if the right offer materialises.