Sunderland star could become 'world-class' after stunning Premier League start
Sunderland are performing brilliantly in the Premier League this season.
Sunderland are exceeding pre-season expectations, as they sit ninth in the table despite being predicted to go straight back down to the Championship.
Regis Le Bris has led supporters to believe that Sunderland could become the first promoted team since 2022-23 to avoid relegation.
Sunderland made 14 summer signings in the transfer window, yet one has been tipped to become a world-class talent.
Robin Roefs has world-class potential at Sunderland
Robin Roefs has been incredible for Sunderland since joining from NEC Nijmegen in the summer for a fee of £11.5million.
The impressive performances over the first seven matches have not gone unnoticed as Roefs nearly won the Premier League Player of the Month award for September, with Erling Haaland claiming the prize.
The Dutch goalkeeper has an incredible amount of potential, and there is no limit to what his future can hold.
Speaking exclusively to Mackem News, Dutch football expert and Voetbal International journalist Sander Janssen believes Roefs can become one of Europe's elite shot-stoppers.
He said: "With what I've seen until now, I think he can. He has all the qualities to become a very, very good goalkeeper.
"He's still young, so he can improve a lot. Now he can learn in the Premier League and with the national team.
If he shows himself now for Sunderland, I don't know why he can't become a world-class goalkeeper."
The way Roefs commands his area in every game suggests that he would be approaching the end of his career, yet that is far from the case.
Robin Roefs showing incredible maturity despite his age
Aged just 22, Roefs's rise has been meteoric, and the goalkeeper seems to strike calmness in his defence.
It is extremely rare to see a young goalkeeper flourishing in the Premier League, yet the Dutch star has adapted to the top flight in comfortable fashion.
Barring a mistake against Aston Villa, Roefs' composed and mature performances have earned him recognition at both club and international level.
- Roefs saved Kevin Schade's penalty in the 2-1 win over Brentford
- Roefs made six saves in both the Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest matches to help Sunderland secure valuable clean sheets away from home
- As a result of his early-season success, Roefs has been called up to the last two international squads with The Netherlands
Janssen added: "That's the thing he's most known for at NEC. He was a talent for years, and people always said he was a great goalkeeper and also a very calm and mature person.
"His family is exactly the same: cool, down-to-earth people. I think they gave him that character a bit."
Roefs has only just begun his Premier League journey with the Black Cats, yet if he continues to perform week in and week out, he possesses all the qualities to become one of the world's very best.
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