Sunderland could revive £17.5m transfer after dramatic summer collapse – reports in Italy claim
Everything you need to know as reports in Italy suggest Sunderland could revisit a £17.5million transfer this January
Sunderland could reportedly have the chance to revisit a move for Armand Laurienté in January should they choose to reignite their interest.
Italian outlet Tuttomercatoweb claim the winger remains keen on a Premier League move and is expected to seek an exit this winter. Laurienté was heavily linked with Sunderland in the summer, and reports at the time suggested an agreement was in place with Sassuolo before the deal dramatically fell apart.
It was widely stated in Italy that a fee of around €20million (roughly £17.5million) plus add-ons had been settled between the clubs, and Laurienté had been given the green light to travel. However, Tuttomercatoweb report that additional financial requests from the player’s side ultimately stalled the transfer, with no final agreement reached and the Frenchman returning to Serie A.
According to the latest from the same outlet, talks over a new contract have since broken down, and Sassuolo are now prepared to sell for a similar figure to the one discussed in the summer. With Laurienté allegedly pushing for a move to England and determined to test himself in the Premier League, the situation may reopen the door for interested clubs.
Whether Sunderland re-enter the race remains to be seen. Régis Le Bris’ recruitment has leaned heavily towards young, technical players with French football experience, and Laurienté fits that profile, but any move would depend on finances, interest from other Premier League sides, and January priorities. What is clear from Italy is that both player and club appear ready for a fresh start, and Laurienté’s future is expected to be a talking point once the window opens.
Régis Le Bris offers injury update
Régis Le Bris says Sunderland midfielder Habib Diarra is set to miss this weekend’s Wear-Tyne derby, with the head coach admitting the fixture against Newcastle United will likely come too soon for the 21-year-old.
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Diarra has been stepping up his recovery following groin surgery earlier this season and had been in a race to return in time for the derby. While progress has been positive, Le Bris believes the timing will work against him. The Frenchman did, however, offer encouragement elsewhere, revealing that Reinildo is expected to return after sitting out the 3-0 defeat to Manchester City with a groin issue. "For Rei, it could be okay but for Habib, it would be too short, I think," Le Bris said.
Sunderland will also have Granit Xhaka and Noah Sadiki available for the derby after both avoided a booking at the Etihad. Le Bris moved to withdraw the pair late on, protecting them for Sunday’s clash, with Romaine Mundle and Simon Adingra introduced instead.
Le Bris later explained his decision not to turn to Dan Neil was to keep attacking momentum, with Lutsharel Geertruida pushed into midfield. "Yes, because we tried to stay in the game, to provoke something," he said. "I think with offensive players on the side, it was more or less the idea. It didn't work, but we tried."