Sunderland Weighing Up Summer Move For Another French Attacker: Smart From Le Bris? | OneFootball

If a report from ESPN is believed to be true, Sunderland are eyeing a summer swoop for Armand Laurienté and have reached out to Sassuolo over the availability of their prized asset. The Black and Greens clinched the Serie B silverware en route to claiming top-flight promotion, and the French forward played a massive role with 18 goals and 6 assists in 33 appearances.

The 26-year-old former Les Espoirs international progressed through the academy ranks of Roissy-en-France, Sarcelles, and Red Star before joining Rennes. There, he spent a few years with the reserves and was eventually loaned out to Orléans for senior minutes in the second tier of French football.

REGGIO NELL’EMILIA, ITALY – MAY 04: Nicolo Barella of FC Internazionale pulls the shirt of Armand Lauriente 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)

However, Laurienté struggled for minutes at Rennes and was loaned out again, this time with Lorient in Ligue 2. The latter snapped him up on permanent terms upon their promotion to Ligue 1, and after a couple of years at Les Merlus, the attacker plied his trade in Italy when Sassuolo tied him down for a fee of around €10m.

Although they could not survive relegation last year, his finesse from the left was pivotal to their immediate return. Sunderland, too, scripted a dramatic Premier League promotion as they secured a comeback win against Sheffield United in the play-off final, and the signing of Laurienté would bolster them high up the pitch, having lost Tom Watson to Brighton & Hove Albion.

Why Sunderland Are Eyeing Laurienté

The 19-year-old Englishman was already signed by the Seagulls in April for £10m, officially joining them earlier this month. But he left his boyhood club as a cult hero when his injury-time winner against the Blades restored their top-flight status after 8 years of agony and despair. The Black Cats still have Romaine Mundle, who made significant strides down the left. Yet, they must find an experienced individual to replace Watson, as well as challenge and cover the Englishman at the Stadium of Light.

Sunderland also have Danish teenager Clement Bischoff on their radar, who is valued at around £5.1m by Brondby. Despite his young age and a very high ceiling, Regis Le Bris must opt for familiar figures over raw talent to retain their Premier League profile.

Like Enzo Le Fee, Laurienté was also coached by Le Beris during their time at Lorient, and the French connection should see the Wearsiders grab another crucial signing from the gaffer’s homeland. Le Fee and Wilson Isidor have been key to their recent success, and it remains to be seen whether their fellow countryman could contribute to their battle for survival.