{"id":7372,"date":"2026-05-11T23:49:34","date_gmt":"2026-05-11T23:49:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=7372"},"modified":"2026-05-11T23:49:34","modified_gmt":"2026-05-11T23:49:34","slug":"gary-lineker-predicts-major-transfer-tussle-for-100m-chelsea-target-andoni-iraola-loves-him","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=7372","title":{"rendered":"Gary Lineker predicts major transfer tussle for \u00a3100m Chelsea target, Andoni Iraola loves him"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Aside from Chelsea\u2019s search for a new manager, the club are gearing up for what is a crucial transfer window, and Gary Lineker has predicted a transfer tussle for a \u00a3100m star on the Blues radar.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The search for a new manager is not expected to come to a conclusion until after the season is finished. But in the meantime, the Blues will also be starting to put together a shortlist for the summer window.<\/p>\n

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Jarrod Bowen to Chelsea if West Ham get relegated. Discuss\u2026<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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Whether Chelsea qualify for Europe remains to be seen. They need to beat Man City in this weekend\u2019s FA Cup final to win a Europa League place, with any European qualification in the league looking unlikely.<\/p>\n

If Chelsea fail to get into Europe, that obviously affects the calibre of player the Blues will be able to bring in. However, Chelsea are one of the clubs linked with Bournemouth star Eli Junior Kroupi this summer.<\/p>\n

Gary Lineker predicts transfer battle for Eli Junior Kroupi<\/h2>\n

Signed by Bournemouth in January 2025 for around \u00a311m from French side Lorient, Kroupi stayed at Lorient until the end of the season. He moved to Bournemouth ahead of 2025-26 and has since starred.<\/p>\n

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He has since scored 12 goals in 31 Premier League appearances, having only started 19 of those. Indeed, he\u2019s only played around 1500 minutes, and yet, he is up there with the highest goalscorers in the league.<\/p>\n

Speaking on The Rest Is Football, Gary Lineker reckons there will be a transfer battle for the France U21 international this summer. He predicts a big offer to come in for a player Alan Shearer also appreciates.<\/p>\n

Micah Richards began: \u201cReally like Kroupi, don\u2019t you Al,\u201d before Shearer replied: \u201cYeah, I do. I think he\u2019s got huge potential.\u201d Lineker continued: \u201cSomebody might have a pop at him. Take a little punt. <\/p>\n

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\u201cThere aren\u2019t that many around that are that promising. If you can get one early, it wouldn\u2019t surprise me if there are big offers for him,\u201d before Shearer added: \u201cHe\u2019s got potential to go right to the top.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bournemouth\u2019s valuation of Kroupi and Andoni Iraola\u2019s praise<\/h2>\n

Kroupi\u2019s form in the Premier League has not gone unnoticed, with Bournemouth now in the driving seat for the sixth Champions League spot if Aston Villa can outdo Freiburg in the Europe League final.<\/p>\n

The Sun claim Arsenal and Man United are also interested, with Bournemouth potentially set to request a whopping \u00a3100m for his services. A huge fee, but for a 19-year-old proven in the Premier League, fair.<\/p>\n

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QUARTER-FINAL 4: Which Chelsea player has had the best season?<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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Chelsea managerial target Andoni Iraola is obviously a big fan. He said last month, as per Bournemouth\u2019s website: \u201cWe noticed straightaway that he has special things. His finishing is top for me.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor sure, I think he will play even more minutes next season and will continue evolving. He has a high ceiling but I think this is the best place for him to continue his evolution,\u201d Iraola summarised on Kroupi.<\/p>\n

With Bournemouth likely to be in Europe in one form or another come next season, Chelsea will surely need the same to attract a player like Kroupi to Stamford Bridge. But without Europe, it will be difficult.<\/p>\n

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