Bournemouth plot to keep star trio amid Arsenal and Man United interest as release clause clarified

May 28, 2026 - 11:30
Bournemouth plot to keep star trio amid Arsenal and Man United interest as release clause clarified

The €100million release clause in Rayan’s Bournemouth contract cannot be triggered until next summer, talkSPORT understands.

Bournemouth plan to keep both Brazilian Rayan and fellow teenage sensation Junior Kroupi.

Andoni Iraola reacts during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Bournemouth
Iraola guided Bournemouth to a first European finish in his final season at the Vitality Stadium helm
AFP

Kroupi is being tracked by the likes of Arsenal and Manchester United.

As previously reported, the Cherries also aim to tie midfielder Alex Scott down to a new contract.

Bournemouth sold a host of star players last summer but hope qualifying for the Europa League can avoid a repeat.

The club lost Milos Kerkez, Illia Zabarnyi and Dean Huijsen to Liverpool, PSG and Real Madrid, respectively, last year, while Kepa’s loan move wasn’t made permanent, the goalkeeper ultimately signing for Arsenal.

But the Cherries again exceeded expectations in Andoni Iraola’s final season at the Vitality Stadium helm.

The south coast side finished the 2025-26 campaign in sixth in the Premier League under Iraola, which was enough to secure a Europa League finish for the first time in the club’s history.

And the form of their star players has caught the eye of a number of the division’s heavy hitters.

As mentioned, both the Gunners and United have been credited with an interest in Kroupi, while Rayan has also been linked with a summer exit having shone under Iraola following his January arrival from Vasco Da Gama.

The performances of the attacking pair haven’t gone unnoticed, the former in particular enjoying a whirlwind debut campaign in England on the back of his move from Lorient.

Central midfielder Scott is also believed to be on United’s radar.

Eli Junior Kroupi - Bournemouth
Kroupi has been one of the signings of the season having scored 13 goals in his debut campaign
Getty

Scott was rewarded for his fine league showings with a first England call-up last November, though he didn’t make an appearance for the Three Lions in wins over Albania and Serbia.

The 22-year-old failed to make the cut for England’s 2026 World Cup squad, but was called up to a pre-tournament training camp owing to late arrivals in the US due to Arsenal’s Champions League participation.

Scott was one of a handful of players to get the pre-World Cup call from Thomas Tuchel.

Rio Ngumoha, Josh King, Ethan Nwaneri and Jason Steele will all briefly link up with the national team before the competition kicks off in two weeks’ time.

England, meanwhile, get their World Cup campaign underway against Croatia on 17 June before meetings with Ghana and Panama in their bid to win a first major piece of international silverware since 1966.

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