Bournemouth have rejected two bids from Barcelona for Eli Junior Kroupi, even though the French striker is said to be 'thrilled' by the La Liga champions' interest in signing him.

Barcelona's hunt for a new focal point in attack has run into a major obstacle after Bournemouth knocked back two formal approaches for the emerging talent Eli Junior Kroupi. The Catalan club have now made the French youngster a leading alternative to Julian Alvarez, but the Premier League outfit are proving difficult to deal with despite the player being 'thrilled' by the possibility of a move to Camp Nou.

Barca suffer double rejection for Kroupi

Barcelona have had two opening offers for Bournemouth prospect Eli Junior Kroupi rejected, with sporting director Deco trying to land a back-up option to Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez. The French attacker, who joined the Premier League club only recently after making a huge impact at Lorient, has swiftly become a key name on manager Hansi Flick's shortlist, with the coach reportedly "enthusiastic" about the 20-year-old's technical qualities and explosive natural potential.

In spite of the attraction of Camp Nou, Bournemouth have refused to budge in response to the first moves from the Spanish giants. According to L'Equipe, the Cherries have rejected two separate proposals, both believed to be worth less than the €100 million mark.

Striker 'thrilled' by Blaugrana interest

The attention from Catalonia has clearly made an impression on the player, with Kroupi reportedly 'thrilled' by the chance to join the reigning La Liga champions. Barcelona's move is hardly surprising after the forward, who has only just turned 20, delivered a historic season by breaking the record for the most goals scored by a teenager in a debut Premier League campaign, finishing with 13 goals.

A childhood photograph of the striker wearing Barcelona's bright away shirt from the 2012-13 season has recently gone viral, further fuelling talk of his long-standing affection for the club. After making it known to his representatives that he wants to push for the transfer, Kroupi is now hoping the two clubs can reach a compromise.

Alvarez still the first-choice target

Although Kroupi is the active Plan B, Barcelona president Joan Laporta remains personally engaged in the pursuit of Alvarez. The Argentina forward, whose time at Atletico Madrid has followed a difficult path, is still Flick's top priority. Tension between the two Spanish clubs has increased after the striker made his transfer request public.

Despite those developments, Atletico chief executive Miguel Angel Gil Marin has remained firm, insisting the club will not be forced into a sale. Barcelona's latest bid, understood to be around €100 million, was still not enough to persuade the Colchoneros to let go of their prized forward.

Filling the gap in Catalonia

Barcelona's need to bring in a top-class striker has become urgent after a summer of major change in their attacking department. Robert Lewandowski's departure to Chicago Fire has created a huge gap in the side's goal output, while Ferran Torres is also being strongly linked with a move to Paris Saint-Germain. In the end, the fight to shape the future of the Blaugrana attack will be settled in the boardroom in the coming weeks. Whether that means a record deal for Alvarez or a renewed push for the exceptional talent of Kroupi, Barcelona are determined to get their target.