Bournemouth striker Eli Junior Kroupi is expected to be out for around three months following surgery today.
He has been linked with Tottenham Hotspur in recent weeks.
However, Spurs will have to start looking elsewhere after confirmation that the Frenchman could be out of action until November.
Kroupi sustained a foot injury during the Cherries’ pre-season trip to Austria and has had to go under the knife.
Spurs have had the 20-year-old on their radar for a while, but he also has several other suitors.
Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi wants attacking reinforcements, and Kroupi would have been a solid addition to his current options.
He ended last term with 13 goals in 33 league games, with five of them coming in the Cherries’ final eight matches of the season.
Bournemouth appeared to have been preparing for life without Kroupi after signing Spanish forward Alvaro Rodriguez from Elche two weeks ago.
However, they always maintained that he was not for sale this summer despite interest from Spurs and others. His injury has taken him off the market.
Tottenham have Manchester City attacker Savinho on their radar, and he wants to leave this summer.
De Zerbi could still look to sign another forward even if Savinho joins the Lilywhites.
However, Dejan Kulusevski’s return to full training after a 14-month injury lay-off could change his plans.
