Bournemouth's plans for the new season have suffered a major setback after star forward Junior Kroupi was ruled out for an extended period. The highly rated French youngster picked up a serious foot injury during the club's pre-season tour of Austria, dealing a blow to the Cherries ahead of their forthcoming European campaign.

Injury blow for Cherries ace

As per The Independent, Kroupi is expected to be out for around three months after suffering the foot injury during Bournemouth's pre-season build-up. The 20-year-old impressed hugely for the south-coast club last season, but he is now in a race to regain full fitness. The injury happened while the squad was on tour in Austria, and he was promptly sent back to England for specialist checks and treatment.

After returning home, Kroupi underwent successful surgery on Wednesday to resolve the issue. Although the operation went well, the medical team is anticipating a recovery period of three to four months. That represents a huge blow for the Cherries, as the attacker will miss the start of the Premier League season as well as the early part of the club's historic first-ever Europa League campaign.

Transfer interest intensifies

The injury update has arrived at a time when Kroupi's future is being heavily discussed across the Premier League. Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal are both believed to have placed the forward high on their summer target lists, with Spurs said to view him as a priority signing. Valued at £80 million, the Frenchman emerged as one of Europe's most in-demand young players after a breakthrough season in which his pace and composed finishing attracted the attention of the division's established heavyweights.

Last season, Kroupi played a key role in Bournemouth's rise up the standings, scoring 13 goals as the club finished sixth. It was a landmark achievement for the Cherries, earning them qualification for European competition for the first time in their history.

Bournemouth stand firm

Despite the ongoing speculation linking their star player with a switch to north London, Bournemouth have made their position very clear regarding his future. Club officials have repeatedly said that Kroupi is not for sale in this transfer window. They regard him as a central figure in the long-term project at the Vitality Stadium, along with other important young talents such as midfielder Alex Scott and Brazilian winger Rayan, both of whom have also attracted interest from top-flight clubs.

Bournemouth signed Kroupi from Lorient in February for £10 million. However, the youngster stayed on with the French club for the rest of the season before formally linking up with the Cherries in the summer of 2025.

The club also remains determined to back new manager Marco Rose in his first season in charge. Rose, who replaced Andoni Iraola after the latter left to take over at Liverpool, arrived in the summer and wants his strongest squad available as he begins to put his tactical ideas into place. While Kroupi's absence for the opening months is an obvious frustration for the former RB Leipzig manager, Bournemouth are planning to keep the squad intact so Rose has the depth required to challenge on both domestic and European fronts, beginning with their Premier League opener away to Manchester City on August 23.