Who is Robin Roefs? Meet the goalkeeper closing in on Sunderland move
Sunderland have taken an unfamiliar approach in the transfer window this summer, spending north of £100million.
Habib Diarra represents the biggest deal at the Stadium of Light, while the acquisition of Granit Xhaka is the most eye-catching.
Nowadays, transfer stories break so fast that supporters usually know of interest way before players actually sign.
However, Sunderland’s imminent deal to sign Robin Roefs has landed out of nowhere, and he is expected to complete a medical today.
Given how unknown the goalkeeper is, Black Cats supporters will want to get up to speed with their impending number one.
What kind of goalkeeper are Sunderland getting in Roefs?
Given the injury to Sunderland’s current number one, Anthony Patterson, it is understandable why Regis Le Bris needs a new goalkeeper.
Roefs has risen through the ranks at Eredivise side NEC Nijmegen, but only emerged as the Dutch club’s number one last season.
Last term, the 22-year-old made 32 league appearances, while he has also been capped at various youth levels by the Netherlands.
The Dutchman is six foot three, which makes him slightly taller than Patterson, and he possesses some encouraging statistics.
Roefs has a clear aerial dominance and stopped 11.2 per cent of crosses, making him one of the highest-ranked Eredivisie goalkeepers in this statistic.
Furthermore, he saved 72.8 per cent of shots, which ranks him in the top 80 percentile of shot-stoppers in the division.
His shot-stopping ability is further backed up by his post-shot expected goals (xG), where he ranks in the top 98 percentile.
However, distribution is an area where the Dutchman could improve, as highlighted by FBRef’s chart.
What does Roefs’ arrival mean for Patterson?
Sunderland supporters will be wondering what will happen to Le Bris’ current number one, Patterson.
While the 25-year-old has been a solid performer for the Black Cats, there have been question marks over his Premier League ability.
Last season, the Englishman had his moments, with a humiliating error against Hull City one to forget.
On the other hand, he pulled off some inspiring saves, with the one to deny Kieffer Moore in the play-off final a standout.
However, all the reports suggest that Roefs is being signed as a number one, and with Patterson injured, there is not much he can do.
Of course, when he returns to fitness, then he can mount a challenge for a place in Le Bris’ side.
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