Jules Kounde named in Barcelona squad for Real Valladolid clash
By Tom Gott
Jules Kounde has been included in Barcelona's matchday squad to face Real Valladolid on Sunday after finally being registered with La Liga.
The summer signing, who Barcelona spent up to €60m on to fend off interest from Chelsea, was the last of the new arrivals to be officially registered with La Liga and missed the club's first two league games as a result.
Fortunately for Barcelona, they ended fears that Kounde would never be registered - and could possibly leave for free as a result - by shifting around some salary and finalising his signing with La Liga earlier this week.
Now, Barcelona have named Kounde in Sunday's squad and he could be in line to make his official debut, having already turned out at Camp Nou in the recent friendly victory over Manchester City.
Alongside Kounde in the squad are strikers Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Memphis Depay, both of whom have been heavily linked with moves away from the club before the end of the transfer window.
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Chelsea are pushing hard for Aubameyang, while Memphis had been expected to join Juventus on a free transfer before issues with his contract termination forced the Serie A side to turn to Arkadiusz Milik instead.
Memphis could now remain at Barcelona although Manchester United have not ruled out a late move to re-sign the forward.
Manager Xavi has omitted winger Ez Abde, who is set to join Valladolid on loan, while there is also no place in the squad for right-back Sergino Dest, who has been informed that he is free to leave Camp Nou this summer. Youngster Pablo Torre has also been left out.