‘Here we go!’ – Fabrizio Romano says Sunderland have just agreed £17m deal to sign forward…

“Here we go!” – Fabrizio Romano reports that Sunderland has finalized a £17m agreement to acquire a forward.

Sunderland has reached an agreement to sign Armand Lauriente, a winger from Sassuolo, as disclosed by journalist Fabrizio Romano.

The Black Cats have reportedly secured a deal valued at €20m (£17m) for the French forward, with personal terms also settled.

Lauriente is poised to become Sunderland’s seventh acquisition during a busy summer at the Stadium of Light, following the signings of Habib Diarra, Simon Adingra, Enzo Le Fee, Chemsdine Talbi, Noah Sadiki, and Reinildo.

Last season, Lauriente was among the standout performers in Serie B, playing a crucial role in Sassuolo’s swift return to the top tier of Italian football.

The Frenchman scored 18 goals and provided six assists in 33 league matches, finishing the season as the top scorer in Serie B.

Joining Sunderland will allow Lauriente to reunite with his former manager at Lorient, Regis Le Bris, who took over the Black Cats last season, as well as his ex-teammate Le Fee.

Lauriente spent three seasons with Sassuolo after his arrival in 2022, bringing a wealth of experience from both Italian and French top-flight football.

He made 65 appearances in Serie A for Sassuolo, contributing to 24 goals during his first two seasons with the club.

Sunderland’s summer transfer activity shows no signs of abating, as the Black Cats strive to strengthen their squad and prevent an immediate return to the Championship next season.

Reports from France indicate that Le Bris’ team is also pursuing a new central defender and has had a £23m offer for Lille’s Bafode Diakite rejected.