Italian reports suggest that Sunderland, the newly-promoted Premier League team, is currently in talks with Sassuolo, the Serie B champions, regarding a potential deal for forward Armand Laurienté.
Having played for Sassuolo for the past three seasons, Laurienté chose to remain with the team even after their relegation from Serie A in 2024. He went on to have a stellar season in Serie B, leading the team to victory in the league while also finishing as their top scorer in both the league and all competitions. With 18 goals and six assists in 33 Serie B appearances, and 19 goals and six assists in 34 matches across all competitions, the 26-year-old has caught the attention of Sunderland.
Reports from Matteo Moretto and TMW indicate that Sunderland is keen on acquiring Laurienté following their promotions in the 2024-25 season. Interestingly, Laurienté had previously played for Lorient in Ligue 1 from 2020 to 2022, coinciding with the tenure of current Sunderland head coach Regis Le Bris, who joined Lorient just before Laurienté’s departure.
Sunderland has shown interest in Serie A players this season, with the signing of Enzo Le Fee from Roma on loan, later making the deal permanent after Sunderland’s play-off final win in May. Additionally, the Black Cats are rumored to be appointing former Roma sporting director Florent Ghisolfi.
Both Ghisolfi and Laurienté have ties to Lorient, having been part of the club at different times. These connections could play a role in potentially bringing Laurienté to Sunderland.
