Barcelona will reportedly have to sell off some players to raise the ‘£17 million needed to register new signing Jules Kounde.
The Catalan giants have made several big signings this summer as they look to return to winning trophies this season. However, they have not succeeded in registering one of the players they signed; Jules Kounde.
The Frenchman who was signed from Sevilla in a £46m deal, has missed the club’s first two league games of the season.
According to reports by Spanish news outlet AS via Daily Mail, Barcelona need £17m to register Kounde and they plan to do this by selling fringe players, including the likes of Memphis Depay, who is in talks with Juventus and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang who has been linked with Chelsea.
The Catalan side are reportedly ‘confident’ they will be able to raise the needed funds to register Kounde before their deadline at the start of September.
However, the report also claims that there have been some issues in the club’s plans to export unneeded players.
One player who has been difficult to sell off is Martin Braithwaite. According to AS, the Denmark international is showing a ‘lack of interest in a change of scenery’ despite attracting interest from RCD Mallorca.
But Barcelona are close to selling Samuel Umtiti, who is undergoing a medical with Italian club, Lecce.
Speaking in a press conference ahead of Barcelona’s game with Real Sociedad on Sunday, Barca coach Xavi said:
“It doesn’t bother me that players don’t want to leave. Everyone looks to their future; it bothers me not being able to have Kounde.
“Kounde is a great leader and a great player. Hopefully, he shows it soon. He has trained very well. I see him in good spirits, but we need to sell players to be able to register him.”
Xavi also hinted at potential departures for Aubameyang and Depay, saying: “The transfer market ends on August 31 and we don’t know what will happen. Auba and Memphis are still here, so tomorrow we will use them. But the priority is to register Kounde.”
