What’s next for Laurienté after collapsed Sunderland transfer?

REGGIO NELL’EMILIA, ITALY – MAY 4: Armand Laurienté of US Sassuolo competes for the ball with Cristian Volpato of US Sassuolo during the Serie A TIM match between US Sassuolo and FC Internazionale at Mapei Stadium – Citta’ del Tricolore on May 04, 2024 in Reggio nell’Emilia, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images) (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

Armand Laurienté’s proposed Sunderland transfer has collapsed, but the French winger is unlikely to remain at Sassuolo as he wants a new challenge.

French winger Laurienté was supposed to join Sunderland in a €20m deal this summer, but his transfer suddenly collapsed on Sunday, so the 26-year-old is on his way back to Italy.

Laurienté was the top Serie B goalscorer in the 2024-25 season and the best player in Italy’s second division last term, enabling Sassuolo to earn promotion to Serie A.

The Neroverdi were by far the best team in the tournament, so fans didn’t really need football predictions generated using AI. However, with a new top-flight campaign ahead, the Mapei Stadium-based club is preparing to shock some of Italy’s top sides, as they did in their golden era.

Laurienté won’t join Sunderland

It will be worth keeping a close eye on the Neroverdi, who have confirmed Fabio Grosso in charge for 2025-26 after an easy promotion to Serie A last season.

Sassuolo, however, are aware that they won’t rely on Laurienté next season, despite his recent failed Sunderland transfer.

Grosso himself confirmed the winger’s desire to leave just a few weeks ago.

“Laurienté would love to test himself at a higher level,” Grosso said via TMW.

“Speaking with Armand, I try to show him all the possible scenarios, but also highlight what the club have done for him.”

Laurienté joined Sassuolo in a €10m deal from FC Lorient in the summer of 2022 and immediately became a star player at the Mapei Stadium.

The French winger scored 31 goals and provided 18 assists in 102 appearances with Sassuolo, including 18 Serie B goals last season.

The 26-year-old was linked with a move to Napoli in the January transfer window, and his agent even confirmed the Partenopei’s interest a few months ago.

Napoli ‘always’ interested in Laurienté

“Honestly, there was no call from Napoli in January, but they were always interested in the past,” Laurienté’s agent, Roberto Meloni, said in February.

“The lad likes Napoli as a solution, they are a great club, but you need a perfect marriage to finalise the deal.”

Napoli are still looking for an attacking winger despite signing Noa Lang, but this obviously doesn’t mean the French winger will surely end up at the Stadio Maradona.

One thing that is practically certain: Laurienté won’t be playing for either Sassuolo or Sunderland in the 2025-26 season, but his next destination remains to be determined.

Napoli have also targeted Bologna’s Dan Ndoye, but Nottingham Forest have recently made an opening offer to sign the Swiss winger.

Sassuolo will make their 2025-26 Serie A debut against Napoli at home on August 23.