West Ham miss out on €40m striker compared to Neymar

Robin Bairner

• 3 Feb 2025 17:22 GMT
• 4 min read

West Ham United may have signed Evan Ferguson on loan from Brighton, but Graham Potter’s side also wanted to land one of the most highly rated young talents in France.

The Hammers were on the tail of Lorient striker Eli Kroupi, who has scored 10 goals in 19 matches for the Ligue 2 side this season but have seen a €42 million (£35m) bid rejected by the French side, according to Football Insider.

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STATS

Eli Junior Kroupi

F (C)

Lorient

Eli Junior Kroupi

F (C)

Lorient

Ligue 2

2024/25

• 17

  Games

• 9

  Goals

• 2

  Assists

View all stats

While West Ham were able to match Lorient’s expectations in terms of the transfer fee, they were unable to provide terms to the deal that were given the green light by the Breton side, who are well placed to head back to Ligue 1 after relegation last season.

Lorient are said to be comfortable with this position as they believe that Kroupi will be worth €60-72m come the summer transfer market – an enormous price for the club considering L’Equipe was quoting a potential €10m deal to Bournemouth at the weekend.

Indeed, the Cherries continue to be linked with the player, fuelled by the fact that Bill Foley owns both clubs. Lyon are also said to want to sign the teenager.

L’Equipe reports that Bournemouth are still in talks with Lorient over a deal, yet the French side a confident that Kroupi will continue to play for them for at least the next six months – potentially the next 18.

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Neymar comparisons

Ligue 2’s official X account recently compared the skill of Kroupi in tight spaces to Neymar. Indeed, he has that same flair and imagination in possession, yet there is more energy to his game and a willingness to engage in the less glamorous side of the game.

Kroupi has an Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) of €13.8m yet his rapidly growing reputation means he will likely leave for more than that figure.

Lorient would surely be delighted if West Ham were to revisit the bid in the summer with €42m – a fee that seem enormous for a player of his standing.