The Armand Lauriente transfer saga appears to be nearing its conclusion, but perhaps not in the way many expected.
The 26-year-old Sassuolo winger was close to joining Sunderland earlier this month, with reports indicating a €20 million deal had been agreed.
Lauriente even traveled to the Black Cats’ pre-season camp in Portugal to finalize the move.
However, the transfer collapsed at the last minute. Sassuolo CEO Giovanni Carnevali publicly criticized the player’s entourage, accusing Lauriente’s agent of derailing the deal.
Lauriente’s Agent Explains Why Sunderland Transfer Collapsed
Speaking about the deal collapsing, Lauriente’s agent, Roberto Meloni, shed light on the situation in an interview with Stile TV.
He confirmed the Sunderland deal had reached an advanced stage, and made it clear the player was open to the move largely because of manager Regis Le Bris, who previously coached Lauriente at Lorient.
“At Sunderland, the manager was pushing to have him because he knew him from Rennes and wanted to work with him,” 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.”
Despite that intent, Sassuolo CEO Giovanni Carnevali pointed to difficulties in negotiations with the player’s representatives, suggesting that agents played a role in the breakdown.
Fenerbahce Hijack Lauriente Transfer
With Sunderland out of the picture, Fenerbahce moved swiftly to swoop in. Initially offering a loan deal, the Turkish club eventually submitted a permanent transfer bid that Sassuolo accepted.
Turkish reports suggest the fee will be in the region of €15 million – €5 million less than Sunderland’s initial offer.
According to Fanatik and Sabah, Fenerbahce has also agreed personal terms with the Frenchman, offering a salary of over €2 million per season. Final details are reportedly being ironed out, with a formal announcement expected soon.
Lauriente is seen as an ideal fit for Mourinho’s plans, offering pace, flair, and versatility in the final third.
The 26-year-old scored 18 goals and assisted six in Serie B last season, and his set-piece quality and one-on-one ability made him a standout in their league-winning campaign.
Napoli and Roma Also Linked With Lauriente
While Fenerbahce have surged ahead, Lauriente has not been short of options.
His agent confirmed that Napoli had previously shown interest and that the player is still on the radar of Roma and Bologna, with the latter looking for a replacement for Dan Ndoye.
“Napoli? We’ll see what happens. It’s a big club and we like it,” Meloni said. “But we need to understand what happens in the next few days… Sassuolo will ask for their fair share, so there are many aspects to evaluate.”
Despite the noise around other clubs, Lauriente now appears set for Turkey.
Sassuolo have reportedly accepted Fenerbahce’s proposal, and the player is keen on working under Mourinho as he enters a new phase of his career.
While the €15 million fee may seem modest compared to the €20 million Sunderland were ready to pay, the player’s refusal to sign a new contract and his desire to move likely gave Sassuolo little leverage.
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