Chelsea are reportedly considering a move for Sunderland goalkeeper Robin Roefs ahead of the summer transfer window, and the Dutch giant has broken his silence on his future.
Roefs has made a sensational start to life in England since Sunderland paid an initial £9m to land the 23-year-old goalkeeper from Eredivisie side NEC Nijmegen. The Black Cats also owe £2.5m in add-ons.
But they could soon repay that figure amid reports Chelsea are considering a move to raid Sunderland this summer for the Netherlands stopper. Roefs is set for a busy summer with a World Cup ticket likely.
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Roefs is valued at £50m 💵
As things stand, Roefs boasts the third-best save percentage in the Premier League, an even more impressive feat given it has come in his first season in English football, and Chelsea are keeping tabs.
Robin Roefs leaves door open to potential Chelsea transfer
Liam Rosenior and Chelsea are likely to pursue a new goalkeeper in the summer, despite the turnaround in the form of Robert Sanchez. However, Sanchez has been capable of a blunder since joining Chelsea.
While he has been largely impressive during Rosenior’s stint, Sanchez was guilty of two major errors in the English gaffer’s second game as Chelsea manager – a 3-2 Carabao Cup semi-final loss to Arsenal.
Arsenal v Sunderland - Premier League
Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images
Chelsea have been touted with a range of different goalkeepers over the last year, and now, Roefs is the latest to be linked. Quoted by the Northern Echo, Roefs kept his cards close to his chest amid the reports.
“I don’t know what to make of it. I don’t hear anything from it from my agents. As long as I don’t know anything about it, they can read or write what they want. I don’t know,” Roefs said on Chelsea’s interest.
“Obviously, it’s a compliment if people write it about you. I’m really not into this. It’s my first season in the Premier League. I’m really enjoying every single minute of it, so I’m not thinking of anything else.
“As I say, I enjoy every minute, especially when we play at home. But also away games, the fans are just always with us. We haven’t played in the stadium yet, where the atmosphere has not been like this.”
Roefs is not the only goalkeeper to be linked with Chelsea move
Aside from Roefs, Chelsea have been touted with a handful of different shot-stoppers. For a while, it felt Mike Maignan would join on a free transfer from Milan, before the Frenchman signed a new contract.
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His Serie A rival, Roma’s Mile Svilar, has been touted with a big-money move to Chelsea after another impressive stint in Italy’s top tier this season. Back home, Chelsea may also opt to raid Brighton again.
Having signed Sanchez from the Seagulls – as well as Moises Caicedo, Joao Pedro and Marc Cucurella – Chelsea are also linked with Bart Verbruggen. Roefs and Verbruggen both play for the Netherlands.
Whoever it may be that Chelsea choose to sign in the summer, the fact of the matter is this. A new goalkeeper is clearly a priority, and Roefs would be a terrific signing, based on his form this season.
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