Sunderland’s pursuit of Armand Laurienté has come to an end after failing to reach an agreement on personal terms, despite agreeing to a £17.5 million fee with Sassuolo.
According to reports in Italy, negotiations broke down due to contractual issues on the player’s side, despite Laurienté traveling to Portugal to join Sunderland’s pre-season camp. The proposed five-year deal could not be finalized, leading the Black Cats to halt their pursuit of the versatile forward.
Laurienté, who was seen with his agents preparing for a medical with Sunderland, will now return to Sassuolo to prepare for the upcoming Serie B season under new manager Fabio Grosso. Sunderland, on the other hand, will shift their focus to alternative targets to strengthen their squad following Romaine Mundle’s injury setback.
Manager Régis Le Bris acknowledged the need to reinforce the squad, noting the challenges of the transfer market and the importance of balancing coaching and recruitment efforts. Despite the setback with Laurienté, Le Bris expressed satisfaction with the team spirit and emphasized the need to be patient yet prepared for the upcoming season.
