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Sunderland AFC narrowly missed out on signing Armand Lauriente during the summer transfer window, despite the player traveling for a medical. The deal fell apart at the last minute, leading Lauriente to return to Italy, where he has been performing well for Sassuolo in Serie A. Recent reports suggest that Sunderland might make another attempt to sign the 26-year-old winger, with his current contract at Sassuolo expiring in 2027. If Lauriente does not extend his contract, Sassuolo could be open to selling him in January or next summer. The asking price is reportedly set at £17.6 million, with Sunderland, Fenerbahce, and Besiktas considered potential destinations.
Giovanni Carnevali said: “There are difficulties in this transfer market, many of them, not in the choices and objectives, but in the negotiations. As a football system, we deal with many agents, especially foreign ones. You might close a deal with a club and then have to buy the player from the agent. That’s not good for football. He [Lauriente] deserves attention from the management. His sale could have been important for investment, but this doesn’t jeopardise our objectives, so we’re continuing what we’re doing.”
Roberto Meloni said: “It’s true that in today’s football, money is important for the players and everyone involved in negotiations, but Armand isn’t someone who looks solely at the money, and he proved it by putting himself on the line in Serie B. He’s very much into the human and sporting side. At Sunderland, the manager [Regis Le Bris] was pushing to have him because he knew him from his time at Rennes and wanted to work with him.”
Lauriente’s performance in Serie A this season has been noteworthy, with two goals and one assist in 11 appearances. His potential move to Sunderland would not only bolster their attacking options but also reunite him with manager Regis Le Bris, who previously worked with him at Rennes. However, Sunderland will face competition from Turkish clubs Fenerbahce and Besiktas, although neither has yet met Sassuolo’s financial demands.
The failed summer transfer was attributed to complications in negotiations, with Sassuolo’s general director, Giovanni Carnevali, highlighting the challenges posed by dealing with multiple agents. Despite the setback, Lauriente’s agent, Roberto Meloni, emphasized the player’s focus on the sporting and human aspects of football, rather than purely financial motivations.
As the January transfer window approaches, Sunderland will be keen to secure Lauriente’s services, hoping to leverage the player’s past relationship with Le Bris to finalize the deal.
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