Sunderland on verge of signing Armand Laurienté from Sassuolo
According to Le Parisien, Sunderland are on the verge of completing a deal for Sassuolo forward Armand Laurienté (26), who is expected to make the move to the Premier League in the coming hours.
Laurienté was instrumental in Sassuolo’s immediate return to Serie A, scoring 19 goals and providing 6 assists in the Italian second tier last season. His performances earned him the title of Best Player in Serie B, and put him back on the radar of clubs across Europe.
A move to Sunderland would see the French winger reunite with his former manager Régis Le Bris, who took charge of the Black Cats last season, and ex-Lorient teammate Enzo Le Fée, who joined the English side on a permanent deal after a loan spell.
Laurienté joined Sassuolo from Lorient in the summer of 2022 and has since made 84 appearances for the Neroverdi. Under sporting director Florent Ghisolfi, Sunderland have had an aggressive start to the transfer window, already securing deals for Habib Diarra, Noah Sadiki, Simon Adingra, Chemsdine Talbi, and Reinildo Mandava.
A full agreement between Sunderland and Sassuolo is now reportedly close, and the transfer could be finalised swiftly.
Leverkusen chief on Granit Xhaka amid Sunderland transfer interest
LEVERKUSEN sporting director Simon Rolfes says the Bundesliga club want to keep Granit Xhaka this summer, in what is a fresh twist in Sunderland’s pursuit of the midfielder.
The Black Cats made contact with Leverkusen at the start of this week after identifying the 32-year-old as a midfield target, and after initial talks sources in Germany now say the Premier League club have tabled an opening bid.
But fresh reports from Bild today claim Leverkusen want €20m for Xhaka, who still has three years left to run on his current contract with the club.
And Rolfes says Leverkusen will only sanction the midfielder’s exit if “it’s a win-win situation” for the German club.
He said: “Granit is a very important player for us – for the team and for the club. Our main interest is to keep him.
“Sure, there is interest in him, we need to talk to the player to find out what his ambitions are.
“But one thing is clear: a transfer would only happen if it was a win-win situation.”
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Rolfes added: “We still have three years left on the player’s contract and are very happy with him.
“We have big goals for the next few years. Therefore, a transfer can only take place if it’s good for all parties.
“We’ll have to wait and see. But our goal is for Granit to stay with us.”
Saudi club NEOM SC pulled out of the race to sign Xhaka on Thursday after failing to make a breakthrough in talks with Leverkusen.
But Sunderland remain interested, with the club’s recruitment and coaching staff of the view that Xhaka will offer priceless top level experience.
Xhaka turns 33 in September but is still captaining Switzerland and started 33 of Leverkusen’s 34 league games last season, as Xabi Alonso’s side finished second.
Alonso has since left for Real Madrid and been replaced by former Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag, and as Leverkusen plan for the coming season, Rolfes has stressed the need for clarity with Xhaka’s situation sooner rather than later, saying the issue won’t be drawn out across the entire transfer window”.
Sunderland have already made six signings this summer, including three midfielders in Enzo Le Fee, Habib Diarra and Noah Sadiki, but are still looking to make several more signings ahead of the start of the Premier League season and the summer transfer deadline a fortnight later.
The Black Cats are prioritising a central defender, but also want a goalkeeper and a centre forward.
They’ll also sanction the exit of a number of fringe players, with Regis Le Bris confirming last week that the likes of Ian Poveda, Hemir, Nazariy Rusyn, Abdoullah Ba and Pierre Ekwah can all leave.
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