Tottenham Hotspur are not merely aiming to rebuild in Roberto De Zerbi's first full season in charge. They're gunning for the Premier League title.
Okay, perhaps not. Still, the club's intent at the start of the summer transfer window is bound to improve the on-pitch product rather drastically. We might even start winning at home again.
More than £230m has been spent to overhaul De Zerbi's defence and midfield, but the trickiest, and perhaps most important task awaits the Lilywhites.
It's all well and good having a glut of build-up maestros who'll help Spurs bypass pressure, get up the pitch and establish strong footholds in game, but who's going to score the goals? Playmakers James Maddison and Xavi Simons, once he returns, are performing off the back of ACL tears, and Mohammed Kudus hasn't yet recovered from his long-term thigh injury.
Richarlison is expected to move on, while Dominic Solanke's frailty was laid bare down the stretch last season. Down the left, Mathys Tel still has plenty to learn.
The club supposedly has a wad of cash spare and is capable of going big to reinvent its attack, too. We should expect at least two through the door—a new striker and starting left-winger. That striker may well be Bournemouth's Eli Junior Kroupi.
Tottenham only club willing to match Eli Junior Kroupi's valuation
Kroupi has garnered plenty of attention after scoring 13 Premier League goals as a 20-year-old in his debut campaign with the Cherries.
The Frenchman is of the Julián Alvarez mould: an absolute sharpshooter. He's not a proper centre-forward, more of a 9.5, if you will, but that doesn't detract from his stellar talent. Kroupi knows where the goal is, and that, on its own, is incredibly valuable.
And we know Spurs want him desperately.
@szyexcl, our very own Ornstein, has been all over it. He understands that "positive talks" have been held with Kroupi's entourage, and the Frenchman has expressed an interest in signing. Even though Bournemouth don't want to sell, every player has a price. It may set the club back upwards of £85m.
Spurs seemingly have the money, though. ’Szy’ also writes that the Cherries' asking price has deterred other potential suitors, namely Arsenal, Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain. We've got a free run at the guy, apparently.
His agent, Moussa Sissoko (not that one, unfortunately), provided an update on Thursday (via Sport): "We are still discussing his future. We'll see what happens in the coming days; at the moment, there is no final decision."
Not much we can take from that, really.
Add us as a preferred source on Google