Beşiktaş Going Big on the Wings: Armand Laurienté Back on the Radar
Beşiktaş have started to rebuild their squad with recent signings, and while the team is pushing hard for a place in European competitions this season, the club management is already working intensively on transfers for next year. The main objective is clear: build a squad that can seriously compete for the league title. One of the key areas targeted for improvement is the wings, and at the top of that list stands a familiar name – Armand Laurienté.
Laurienté Back in Beşiktaş’s Plans
The black-and-white side has once again turned its attention to 27-year-old French winger Armand Laurienté. Playing for Sassuolo in Serie A, Laurienté is seen as a profile that can immediately raise the level of Beşiktaş’s attacking line, especially in wide areas. Club officials have already started to test the waters through intermediaries, seeking clarity on the player’s situation and possible transfer conditions.
Beşiktaş had tried to sign Laurienté during the last summer transfer window, but negotiations stalled over the transfer fee. Sassuolo’s demands did not align with Beşiktaş’s budget at the time, and the deal collapsed despite the club’s strong interest.
Contract Situation and Transfer Conditions
Laurienté’s contract with Sassuolo runs until June 2027, which means the Italian club is under no pressure to sell from a contractual standpoint. However, Beşiktaş’s board is more determined this time. The plan is to move early, avoid last-minute bargaining, and secure a deal before competition intensifies.
Within the club, Laurienté is considered the number one name on the wing transfer list. The technical staff and management are aligned in their view that the French winger brings exactly the kind of profile Beşiktaş currently lacks: pace, one-on-one ability, creativity, and goal contribution from wide areas. For that reason, the message from the board is clear – the club is ready to make significant financial sacrifices to get this deal done, within reasonable financial fair play limits.
Not Just Beşiktaş: Rivals Also Wanted Him
Laurienté’s quality has not gone unnoticed in Turkey. During the previous summer window, not only Beşiktaş but also Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe pursued the player. All three giants held talks, sounded out Sassuolo, and examined the financial framework, but none of them were able to bring the transfer to a conclusion. High transfer demands and competition from abroad complicated the process.
That shared interest, however, underlines Laurienté’s rating in the market. Being on the radar of all three of Turkey’s biggest clubs is a strong indication of how highly he is regarded and how big an impact he’s expected to make in the Süper Lig.
Laurienté’s Performance and Market Value
Laurienté is currently valued at around 14 million euros, reflecting both his age profile and output in a top European league. This season, the French winger has featured in 29 matches across all competitions, scoring 5 goals and providing 7 assists.
These numbers show he’s not just a player who hugs the touchline and recycles possession, but someone who directly contributes to goals. His ability to create chances, deliver final balls, and appear in scoring positions are exactly the attributes that Beşiktaş have been missing, especially in matches where they struggle to break down low defensive blocks.
Why Beşiktaş Are So Focused on the Wings
In recent seasons, Beşiktaş have often relied on individual flashes rather than consistent production from their wide players. Injuries, inconsistency and lack of competition in certain positions have made the wing areas a recurring problem. For a team that wants to fight for the title, that’s not sustainable.
Modern football demands wingers who can do more than just cross: they need to cut inside, finish attacks, play between the lines, press aggressively, and carry the ball under pressure. Laurienté’s profile fits that modern winger mold. His speed in transition, willingness to take on defenders, and comfort on the ball in tight spaces are all qualities that can transform Beşiktaş’s attacking structure.
Tactical Fit: How Laurienté Could Change Beşiktaş’s Game
From a tactical standpoint, Laurienté gives the coach flexibility. He can operate on both flanks, play as an inverted winger, or stay wide to create space for overlapping full-backs. His diagonal runs between full-back and centre-back can open channels for through balls, while his ability to shoot from distance adds another threat around the edge of the box.
If Beşiktaş line up in a 4-2-3-1, Laurienté could play on the left and cut inside on his stronger foot, allowing the left-back to overlap. In a 4-3-3, he can either stay high and wide to stretch defenses or tuck inside to help overload central areas. This versatility is particularly valuable in a long season where opponents adapt and game plans need to change from week to week.
Financial Sacrifice – But With a Plan
Club insiders underline that while Beşiktaş are ready to make a serious financial effort, the transfer will still be structured carefully. The board is considering options such as performance-related bonuses, staged payments, and possibly including sell-on clauses to convince Sassuolo.
The idea is to invest heavily, but smartly. Laurienté is not seen as a short-term fix; he is viewed as a core piece in a medium-term project. A player in his prime years, with experience in a major European league, and resale value if he performs well in Turkey – this combination makes him particularly appealing from both a sporting and financial perspective.
Building a Squad for the Title Race
Beşiktaş’s renewed push for Laurienté is part of a broader strategy. The club wants to avoid last-minute panic buys and instead build a coherent squad where each transfer fits a clear plan. Strengthening the wings is one part of this, but it connects with other areas: a more dynamic midfield to support pressing, a stable defensive line to allow full-backs to join attacks, and a clinical centre-forward to finish the chances created by players like Laurienté.
The management believes that bringing in a high-impact winger can lift the entire attacking unit. More threat from wide areas stretches opponents, opens central spaces for playmakers and forwards, and makes the team less predictable. That’s especially important in the Süper Lig, where many teams defend deep and compact against the big clubs.
Competition for Places and Dressing Room Impact
Another important aspect of signing a player at Laurienté’s level is internal competition. Current wingers would be forced to raise their game, knowing that a proven performer is ready to take their place. This healthy competition can improve training intensity and performance consistency across the season.
At the same time, adding a player accustomed to a high tactical and physical standard in Serie A could also raise professionalism and standards inside the dressing room. The message from the board to the squad would be unmistakable: the club is serious about returning to the top.
Lessons from Previous Transfers
Beşiktaş’s insistence on revisiting Laurienté after failing to sign him last summer shows that the club has a clear target profile and is not simply jumping from name to name. Recent years have shown that short-term, opportunistic transfers without a proper plan rarely pay off.
This time, the club appears to be acting with more patience and structure: identifying key positions early, following previously-scouted targets, and moving before the window officially opens. If Beşiktaş manage to close the Laurienté deal under these conditions, it could be a turning point in how the club handles transfer windows in the future.
What Comes Next?
In the coming weeks, Beşiktaş are expected to intensify contact with Laurienté’s entourage and Sassuolo. Much will depend on the Italian club’s stance – whether they are open to negotiations, what price tag they put on the player, and whether there is strong interest from other European clubs.
For Beşiktaş, the objective is clear: secure a wing signing that can immediately boost the first eleven and help close the gap with title rivals. Armand Laurienté is currently the leading candidate to fill that role, and the club seems prepared to go all-in to bring him to Istanbul.
If the deal materializes, Beşiktaş will not only be strengthening their flanks, they will be making a statement about their ambitions for next season – aiming not just to participate in the title race, but to dominate it.