{"id":266322,"date":"2026-10-07T18:15:12","date_gmt":"2026-10-07T18:15:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/10\/07\/how-ward-can-bring-iraolas-next-kroupi-to-liverpool-in-2027\/"},"modified":"2026-10-07T18:15:12","modified_gmt":"2026-10-07T18:15:12","slug":"how-ward-can-bring-iraolas-next-kroupi-to-liverpool-in-2027","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/10\/07\/how-ward-can-bring-iraolas-next-kroupi-to-liverpool-in-2027\/","title":{"rendered":"How Ward can bring Iraola’s next Kroupi to Liverpool in 2027"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

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In the view of Jamie Carragher, speaking over the summer, plucking Andoni Iraola<\/a> from Bournemouth felt like trying to sign Jurgen Klopp in his Mainz days, with Liverpool<\/a> gambling on the manager that the Spaniard could become, rather than based on what he’s already achieved.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

In Klopp’s case, by the time he’d made the move to Anfield in 2015, he was firmly on the radar of every elite club in Europe, having led Borussia Dortmund to two Bundesliga titles and the Champions League final.<\/p>\n

Iraola, formerly of Rayo Vallecano, hasn’t hit such heights as yet, although guiding the Cherries into the Europa League last term did certainly mark a fine achievement.<\/p>\n

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\n
\n <\/picture>REUTERS\/Phil Noble<\/small><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Central to that remarkable final year at the Vitality was Eli Junior Kroupi<\/a>, the Frenchman showcasing Iraola’s genius when it comes to nurturing young talent.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\n How Kroupi exploded under Iraola last season<\/strong>
\n <\/h2>\n

Having seen off his former club prior to the international break, Iraola maintained his stunning unbeaten run in the Premier League, stretching back to mid-January.<\/p>\n

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\n
\"Iraola-Semenyo-Bournemouth\"\n <\/picture>REUTERS\/Peter Powell<\/small><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

He’d guided the Cherries into Europe even despite losing Antoine Semenyo to Manchester City mid-season, having made little fuss regarding the departure of yet another key man on the south coast.<\/p>\n

Part of the season why Semenyo’s exit was not felt too keenly was due to the form of Kroupi, the youngster enjoying a breathtaking first season in English football.<\/p>\n

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\n
\"eli-junior-kroupi-bournemouth\"\n <\/picture>REUTERS\/Hannah Mckay<\/small><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Signed from Lorient for a fee of around \u00a312m last summer, Kroupi had only been operating in France’s second tier in 2024\/25, albeit while netting 22 goals in Ligue 2.<\/p>\n

What followed was a record-breaking campaign for a teenager in their debut Premier League campaign, the then-19-year-old scoring 13 goals from just 21 starts.<\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n

25\/26 Premier League<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Player<\/p>\n<\/th>\n

\n

Goals Per 90<\/p>\n<\/th>\n

\n

Goals<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n

\n

Erling Haaland<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

0.82<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

27<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

William Osula<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

0.78<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

7<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Junior Kroupi<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

0.70<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

13<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Benjamin Sesko<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

0.61<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

11<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Igor Thiago<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

0.60<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

22<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Viktor Gy\u00f6keres<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

0.57<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

14<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Federico Chiesa<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

0.57<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

2<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Zian Flemming<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

0.56<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

11<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Donyell Malen<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

0.56<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

4<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Hugo Ekitik\u00e9<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

0.55<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

11<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n

The man who effectively gifted Arsenal the title after pegging back Manchester City in May, Kroupi was so remarkably clinical last term, having missed just three ‘big chances’ all season.<\/p>\n

He notably scored five in the final eight league games of the campaign, while he ended his first year with Bournemouth having scored home and away against both the Gunners and Manchester United.<\/p>\n

Iraola put his faith in him and was handsomely rewarded, unleashing the free-scoring forward at the right times, easing him in gradually to begin with.<\/p>\n

That ability to nurture young talent should be music to the ears of those back on Merseyside.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\n How Liverpool can sign Iraola’s next Kroupi<\/strong>
\n <\/h2>\n

The Richard Hughes regime is over at Anfield, with Julian Ward now back at the helm as sporting director, having previously held the role back in 2022\/23.<\/p>\n