Tottenham Hotspur continue to be linked with a move for Eli Junior Kroupi, but the Lilywhites now face increased competition for the Bournemouth striker, whose club have made their stance on a January exit clear.Tottenham are thought to be prioritising the signing of a number nine in January, which would hardly come as a surprise given their struggles in front of goal this season. Dominic Solanke has not been at his best, while Roberto De Zerbi could do with another reliable option to lead the line.Kroupi is one of the forwards who has been linked with Spurs in recent months, with the club reportedly showing a strong interest in the Frenchman during the summer. However, a foot injury in pre-season put paid to any hopes of a deal, and the 20-year-old has only recently returned to action.It was previously reported that Tottenham could face competition from several European giants for Kroupi if he proved his fitness ahead of January, and it appears that interest is now growing.Photo by Robin Jones – AFC Bournemouth/AFC Bournemouth via Getty ImagesArsenal and Man United join Tottenham in Eli Junior Kroupi raceAccording to TEAMtalk, Tottenham were ‘particularly keen’ on signing Kroupi in the summer and remain ‘firmly in the conversation’ ahead of the winter transfer window.However, Spurs are not alone in their admiration for the young forward, with Arsenal and Manchester United also making enquiries about his fitness and current situation.Kroupi made his first appearance of the season last Sunday, coming off the bench in Bournemouth’s 3-0 victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford. His return to competitive action has reportedly put him back on the radar of several clubs who were tracking him before his injury.The report adds that Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona and Chelsea also made enquiries about the Frenchman during the summer. All three clubs are said to be keeping a close eye on his progress ahead of January.That leaves Tottenham facing significant competition if they decide to make a move for the striker, who scored 13 Premier League goals for Bournemouth last season.Bournemouth make firm decision on Eli Junior Kroupi’s January futureHowever, despite the growing interest in Kroupi, Bournemouth have no intention of letting the forward leave midway through the campaign, according to TEAMtalk.The Cherries are delighted to have the 20-year-old back from injury and believe he can play an important role for Marco Rose’s side over the coming months. The Bournemouth boss is also managing the youngster’s return carefully, having confirmed that Kroupi is not yet ready to start matches.Bournemouth are keen to keep their core group together rather than lose another important player in January. That could make life difficult for Tottenham and the other clubs hoping to prise Kroupi away from the Vitality Stadium.It was previously suggested that an offer of around €100m (£84.8m) could be enough to tempt Bournemouth into selling. However, the latest report indicates that the Cherries are determined to hold on to the striker, with no indication that they are ready to negotiate a winter departure.Would Eli Junior Kroupi be the right January signing for Tottenham?StatisticEli Junior KroupiDominic SolankeAppearances3315Minutes played1,6831,001Goals133Assists00Goals per 900.700.27Expected goals (xG)8.623.59xG per 900.460.32Goals above xG+4.38-0.592025/26 Premier League statistics.Kroupi’s numbers from last season highlight why Tottenham are reportedly interested in the Bournemouth forward. The Frenchman scored 13 Premier League goals in 1,683 minutes, averaging 0.70 goals per 90 minutes, compared with Solanke’s 0.27. What is most interesting is the fact that Kroupi scored over four goals more than his expected goals figure, which proves he made particularly good use of the chances that came his way. However, Solanke played significantly fewer minutes due to injury.There is little doubt that Kroupi is an exciting prospect, having already shown that he can score goals in the Premier League at such a young age. His record of 13 league goals last season helps explain why Tottenham and several other major clubs are monitoring his situation.However, Spurs are looking for more firepower in January, and there is a question over whether Kroupi would be ready to make an immediate impact after spending the opening months of the campaign on the sidelines.De Zerbi has continued to back Solanke, but Tottenham could benefit from having another recognised centre-forward who can compete for a starting place. Whether Kroupi would be the right man for that role remains to be seen, particularly given Bournemouth’s reported reluctance to sell.The Frenchman may be one to keep an eye on over the coming months, but Tottenham could find themselves having to look elsewhere if they want to bring in a new striker when the January window opens.READ MORE: Man United could battle Tottenham for three strikers as Mateus Fernandes paybackThe post Tottenham face Arsenal and Man Utd competition as Bournemouth make Kroupi transfer decision appeared first on Spurs Web.