Armand Lauriente's proposed move to Sunderland has fallen through at the final hurdle, despite the player travelling to England to complete his medical and sign a contract over the weekend.
The €20 million deal, which was seen as a major statement of intent by the newly promoted Premier League club, has now collapsed.
The French winger had been expected to finalise terms with Sunderland after a productive spell in Serie A with Sassuolo, where he earned praise for his pace, flair and attacking instinct. However, unforeseen issues emerged late in the process, and Lauriente is now set to return to Italy.
Sunderland had hoped the 25-year-old would provide an exciting new option on the left flank, offering creativity and experience at the top level. The collapse of the deal is a setback for the Black Cats, who are looking to strengthen their squad ahead of a demanding Premier League campaign.
While the move is now off, Sunderland are expected to return to the market in search of alternative attacking reinforcements. The board remains ambitious in its recruitment strategy as they look to establish themselves back in the top flight.