Sunderland dodged a bullet in summer as transfer target reveals driving force behind Wearside snub
Sunderland were able to seal deals for the majority of their summer transfer targets, though there were a few that slipped through the net.
There were 14 new arrivals at Sunderland in total, and almost every single one of them has transformed the Black Cats into a genuine competitor for European football.
Florent Ghisolfi, Kristjaan Speakman and Kyril Louis-Dreyfus worked tirelessly over the summer to build the team that has delivered the success that the Wearsiders are feasting on today.
However, there were a handful of targets that moved elsewhere, and one of them has painted a clear picture as to why the transfer never materialised.
Marcin Bulka was a Sunderland target
The Black Cats made it clear that they wanted to sign a new goalkeeper in the summer despite the heroics of Anthony Patterson in the play-off final.
Djordje Petrovic was linked, as was Nice’s shotstopper Marcin Bulka, who later made the move to Neom in Saudi Arabia.
Bulka’s time in Saudi Arabia hasn’t been great, with FotMob recording the Polish international with a 66.7 per cent save percentage and a negative goals prevented.
In an interview with Meczyki, Bulka revealed the reason behind his move, and it demonstrates exactly why the Black Cats dodged a bullet.
“I had an offer from Sunderland, and there were talks with Milan and Galatasaray,” Bulka explained.
“But I couldn’t wait. They told me in Saudi Arabia: ‘Marcin, you’re our number one, but in three days, ten goalkeepers could come here for half that amount.’ That’s how it is. In football, what’s certain today is gone tomorrow.”
“At my current club, I earn over 12 times more than in Nice. And I’m not saying I didn’t have much in France.”
Without explicitly saying it, it seems as though Bulka’s move to Sunderland failed to materialise mainly due to the finances involved.
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Marcin Bulka snub allowed Sunderland to hit the jackpot
After Bulka, Sunderland moved to sign Robin Roefs from Nijmegen for significantly less money.
They haven’t looked back since, with Roefs already establishing himself among the best in the Premier League.
Sunderland’s defensive foundations have been a crucial component of the success that they have found so far this season, with Roefs at the root of it.
Via FotMob, the Dutchman has prevented 2.05 goals, with a save percentage of 79.6 per cent; the latter of which is the best in the division.
One failed transfer often presents an even bigger opportunity, and, in this case, it certainly did.
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