There are always risks to consider when the time comes to decide on a transfer.
If you go, there is no guarantee of game time at your new club. But if you stay, well, you might end up in a predicament like the one facing a talented young forward who could have ended up in the Premier League with Tottenham Hotspur or West Ham United in the summer of 2023.
“Bayer Leverkusen liked him as a replacement for (Moussa) Diaby,” Roberto Meloni, the star’s agent told Tuttomercatoweb after Aston Villa sealed a £50 million deal with the now-Bundesliga champions last summer.
“Then there was an interest from Tottenham. And it’s no secret that (former director Cristiano) Giuntoli would have liked him if he had stayed at Napoli.
“In the Premier League, there was an attempt from West Ham. But he wants to reach an important level, preferring a second season at Sassuolo.”
In hindsight, that may be a decision Armand Lauriente regrets.
Tottenham and West Ham target relegated from Serie A
The former France Under 21 international suffered the heartbreak of relegation on Sunday, Sassuolo’s 11 year stay in Serie A coming to an end after a 2-0 defeat by Claudio Ranieri’s Cagliari. Now, no one could accuse Lauriente of failing to do his bit for that failed survival cause.
Only a couple of weeks back, he scored the winner against Scudetto champions Inter Milan, the Nerazzuri once again slipping up against their ‘bogey’ side. Lauriente also hit the net twice in a thrilling 3-3 draw with AC Milan.
Only two Sassuolo players, meanwhile, could match his contribution of five goals and four assists from the win.
“There are moments in a season where you have to have that focus, that fury. Perhaps we, with this team, don’t have that habit of fighting, of attacking, of having that fury because we have other characteristics,” sighed head coach Davide Ballardini, via Tuttomercatoweb, after the perennial overachievers finally ran out of steam.
“Maybe we hide instead of wanting the ball, because it is a difficult and very heavy situation. You can see that the players are very conditioned by the moment, because for me they are very capable.”
Armand Lauriente may be ideal Timo Werner replacement
It’s certainly not a Sassuolo squad short of talent. That in itself, however, raises another fear. The prospect of an almighty summer exodus, with Lauriente likely to attract plenty of interest again.
Whether West Ham and Tottenham come calling once more, however, remains to be seen. Lauriente, at his best when cutting in from the left, could be the natural successor to Said Benrahma that the Hammers need, with Mohammed Kudus more comfortable in the centre or on the right.
Tottenham, meanwhile, are yet to decide on whether or not to trigger the £15 million purchase clause in Timo Werner’s contract, with the £22 million-rated Lauriente a readymade successor on the flank.
HITC understands Spurs would rather extend Werner’s loan rather than commit themselves to a permanent deal.