Kroupi nears return to AFC Bournemouth

French forward Junior Kroupi is close to returning to AFC Bournemouth, with reports confirming that the club hopes to have him back by November at the latest.

Junior Kroupi, 20, is continuing his recovery after undergoing surgery for a foot injury sustained during a training session for the team in Austria in late July. The French forward returned to England for the surgery and is aiming to return to the pitch before the next international break.

Junior Kroupi shone in his first season in the Premier League, becoming the first teenager to score 10 or more goals in his debut season since Robbie Keane with Coventry in the 1999-2000 season. He finished last season with 13 goals in 33 league matches under former coach Andoni Iraola, but he has yet to feature under current manager Marco Rose.

AFC Bournemouth hope Kroupi will be an important addition to the team in the second half of the season, especially with his name linked to interest from several major clubs, including Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain. The club also intends to keep the French striker and will not allow him to leave during the winter transfer window in January.

The same decision applies to midfielder Alex Scott, who suffered a thigh injury that will keep him out for up to eight weeks. AFC Bournemouth finds itself in a difficult position in the Premier League after failing to secure a victory in their first five matches, but they continued their journey in the EFL Cup and achieved their first European win against Real Sociedad away in the UEFA Europa League.