When Tottenham Hotspur announced last week that they had signed Sandro Tonali from Newcastle United in a staggering deal worth £100m, few supporters would have expected them to spend lavishly again.
However, Spurs have no intention of sinking into the relegation zone again. Under Roberto De Zerbi they are so serious about business, in fact, that they could beat the likes of PSG and Arsenal for Bournemouth signing Eli Junior Crupi.
The Cherries don’t want to lose their young prodigy, but the Frenchman definitely wants to test himself at the highest level and is said to be keen on a move to the Lilywhites.
However, at £90 million, it’s not a cheap deal. But it would be a very nice capture.
How will Crupi fit into the Spurs team?
Not since a young Wayne Rooney has a teenage striker been so talked about in the Premier League.
Crupi took the top flight by storm last season, scoring 13 goals for the Cherries as they qualified for Europe. It was a very impressive season. Until now, no teenager had scored 13 goals in their debut season in the Premier League.
He has already surpassed Ryan Giggs’ teenage record (12), is level with Marcus Rashford, ahead of Jermain Defoe and just one behind Raheem Sterling. He’s part of a prestigious company and it’s easy to see why.
Leading teenage goalscorers – Premier League history | |
|---|---|
player | Number of points scored |
1. Michael Owen | 40 |
2. Robbie Fowler | 35 |
3. Wayne Rooney | 30 |
4. Mason Greenwood | 20 |
5. Nicolas Anelka | 19 |
6. Alan Smith | 17 |
=6. francis jeffers | 17 |
8. Raheem Sterling | 14 |
=8. Romelu Lukaku | 14 |
=8. chris bert williams | 14 |
11. So Junior Croup | 13 |
Daniel Sturridge, one of the most clinical goal-getters of modern times, has already hailed the teenager as “one of the best finishers in the Premier League”. That’s certainly a great compliment, and one that deserves praise too.
That being said, one of the biggest benefits of signing Crupi may be his versatility, not just his scoring ability.
It is clear that Spurs need a striker and if the Frenchman moves to London, he will likely play as Roberto de Zerbi there. Still, he can also play multiple other roles.
He is a player who can easily solve Tottenham’s problems in the wide areas. Although he did not play a single game on the wing last season under coach Andoni Iraola, he has proven that he is more than capable of handling the job on the left flank for Lorient in the 2024/25 season. During his last season in France, the talented forward played 6 games on the wing and scored 7 goals.
As a result, it’s not just Dominic Solanke who will be worried about his position, Matthijs Tell, Wilson Odbert, Richarlison and Xavi Simons will also be sweating over their long-term futures.
He remains versatile on the south coast, playing a slightly deeper role as a second striker behind Evanilsson. He played in 16 games in that role, scoring 6 goals, and also played in 19 games as the main center forward, scoring 7 goals. However, the fact that he can play behind the striker means the likes of James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski are also concerned about playing time.
Crupi will certainly be a notable addition, but who will he be? of Add a dream? Probably not.
Spurs are ready to sign a better striker than Crupi
The speedy French superstar was a wonder for Bournemouth last season and has all the tools to become one of the best strikers in the world in the not too distant future.
But he’s not there yet. The great Harry Kane undoubtedly holds that title, with journalist Daniel Storey praising his achievements since leaving Tottenham as “the best player in the world right now”.
Kane left Spurs three years ago and although he has taken his game to new heights, things are looking pretty bleak for the Lilywhites as they struggle with back-to-back relegation battles.
That wouldn’t have happened if Kane was one of them, but don’t worry, there’s a good chance he’ll come back in the future. This is a move that not only surpasses Crupi, but also Matheus Fernandes and Tonali. He is Spurs’ all-time leading goalscorer.
Now, according to TEAMtalk, De Zerbi and others are ready to re-sign the veteran centre-forward if the opportunity arises.
With 12 months left on his contract and Real Madrid and Saudi Pro League sides also keenly monitoring his situation, Barcelona have made inquiries and there is a good chance they could pry him away from Bayern Munich.
Spurs are also in talks with the player’s camp over his future in Germany and, although no immediate move will occur and no formal approach has been discussed, they believe they have a serious chance of bringing him back within a year if the stars align.
Now, I don’t need to tell you how good Kane is, but everyone at Spurs knows it, but the magnitude of a move like this is worth noting.
No one knows what Tottenham will do in 2027 under De Zerbi. They have already shown great ambition under the Italian manager, and if you think Crupi will be an afterthought, think again. Kane will be a great addition to that.
Since moving abroad, he has become one of the best players in European football. He scored 61 goals in 51 appearances at club level in the 2025/26 season, adding another six goals in six games at the ongoing North American World Cup.
He’s in a different league than just Crupi, but most players on the planet.
