Besiktas end Laurienté pursuit by signing Trossard for €20m

Besiktas have abandoned their pursuit of Sassuolo forward Armand Laurienté, opting instead for Arsenal winger Leandro Trossard in a deal reported to be worth €18m plus €2m in potential bonuses. The move follows weeks of advanced negotiations between Sassuolo and Laurienté, who had agreed personal terms with the Italian club. Sassuolo’s €30m asking price ultimately proved prohibitive for Besiktas, forcing the Turkish side to pivot toward Trossard.

Trossard, who has one year remaining on his Arsenal contract, is set to join Besiktas after the Gunners accepted their offer. The Belgian international will now enter negotiations over personal terms, with reports suggesting he is targeting an annual salary of €9m—a substantial increase on his current Arsenal wages. The deal represents a significant investment for Besiktas, who have prioritised securing an attacking winger to bolster their squad under new manager Vincenzo Italiano.

Italiano, who took charge of Besiktas this summer, had made Laurienté a key target before shifting focus to Trossard. The Italian coach’s preference for a direct, pacey winger appears to have guided the club’s decision, despite Laurienté’s eagerness to join Sassuolo. The collapse of Laurienté’s potential move to Sunderland last summer adds another layer of frustration for the forward, who has now seen two high-profile transfers fall through in consecutive years.

For Trossard, the move to Besiktas offers a fresh start in the Süper Lig, where he will be expected to provide creativity and goals from wide positions. His arrival comes at a critical juncture for Besiktas, who are rebuilding under Italiano after a turbulent off-season. The club’s willingness to meet Arsenal’s valuation underscores their urgency to secure a proven Premier League talent before the transfer window closes.

Laurienté, meanwhile, remains at Sassuolo as the club seeks alternative options to strengthen their attacking options. Sassuolo’s decision to hold firm on their €30m valuation may yet prove costly if they fail to find a suitable replacement for Laurienté in the coming weeks.