Real Madrid and Barcelona are both reportedly closely monitoring teenage forward Eli Junior Kroupi amid his impressive form for Lorient during the 2023-24 campaign.
The 17-year-old has been with Lorient since 2013, progressing though the various age groups at the club before making his first-team debut in June 2023.
Junior Kroupi has scored three times and registered two assists in eight Ligue 1 appearances this season, with his form believed to have led to a host of attention.
According to Foot 01, via Sport, both Real Madrid and Barcelona are monitoring the youngster, with the pair potentially going head-to-head for his signature in the not too distant future.
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Junior Kroupi's performances have seen him compared to both Paris Saint-Germain forward Kylian Mbappe and Barcelona's 16-year-old attacker Lamine Yamal.
Lorient are unlikely to be able to keep hold of the forward for much longer, but he signed a contract extension in August, with his current terms running until June 2026.
Junior Kroupi was an unused substitute in his side's opening match of the new Ligue 1 campaign against Paris Saint-Germain, but he has played in all eight of their games since.
The forward netted his first goal against Nantes last month before scoring a brace in a 3-3 draw with Lyon earlier this month.
Junior Kroupi scored nine times in nine appearances for France Under-17s, while he made his debut for France Under-18s earlier this month.
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Barcelona and Real Madrid could be set for a battle in the market for the forward, while the two giants of Spanish football will lock horns on the field this weekend.
Real Madrid are currently top of the La Liga table on 25 points, one point clear of third-placed Barcelona.
Los Blancos will enter the contest off the back of a 2-1 victory over Braga in the Champions League on Tuesday, while Barcelona will face Shakhtar Donetsk on Wednesday.
Barcelona were 1-0 winners over Athletic Bilbao in the league last weekend, but Real Madrid were held to a 1-1 draw by Sevilla, with Dani Carvajal cancelling out an own goal from David Alaba at Estadio Ramon.
Matt Law
