Sunderland Goalkeeper Robin Roefs Breaks Silence on £50m Chelsea Transfer Rumours
Ben McAleer
Sunderland goalkeeper Robin Roefs has played down speculation linking him with a £50m transfer to Premier League rivals Chelsea.
Roefs only moved to the Black Cats from Dutch side NEC last summer and has gone on to become a mainstay under Regis Le Bris.
The Dutchman’s performances have been attracting interest from a number of the division’s heavy hitters, with west London giants Chelsea believed to be keeping tabs on the 23-year-old.
Chelsea expected to sign a goalkeeper this summer
The Blues were expected to bring in a new goalkeeper last summer amidst question marks over Robert Sanchez’s form but failed in their pursuit to sign Mike Maignan from AC Milan.
Chelsea are tipped to pursue a new goalkeeper when the season draws to a close and have been credited with an interest in Roefs.
The young shotstopper has since responded to reports that the capital outfit will spend big to lure Roefs to Stamford Bridge later this year.
Roefs responds to transfer talk: 'I don't know'
“I don't know. I don't know what to make of it. I don't hear anything about 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 told the Sunderland Echo.
“Obviously, it's a compliment, I think, if people write about you. I'm really not into this. It's my first season in the Premier League, my first season here. I'm really enjoying every single minute of it, so I'm not thinking of anything else.
For the time being, Roefs remains focused on Sunderland, adding: “As I say, I think 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.”
Verbruggen also a target
Roefs isn’t the only Dutch goalkeeper that is believed to be on Chelsea’s radar with Brighton number one Bart Verbruggen a rumoured target for Liam Rosenior’s side.
Even then, Chelsea would face competition in the race to sign Verbruggen, who has also been linked with a move to German giants Bayern Munich as a Manuel Neuer replacement.
