Earlier this summer, Sunderland’s bid for Manchester City goalkeeper Stefan Ortega was rebuffed, leading them to secure the services of Robin Roefs from NEC Nijmegen for around £11.5 million.
Various clubs, including Burnley and Fenerbahçe, expressed interest in Ortega, but the 31-year-old opted to stay at Manchester City to compete for playing time under Pep Guardiola. Ortega had been an essential player for City, earning praise for his performances in the FA Cup-winning season of 2022-23 and the title-winning campaign last season.
Roefs, on the other hand, has quickly established himself as Sunderland’s primary goalkeeper under Régis Le Bris, starting all three Premier League matches this season. In the recent victory against Brentford, Roefs made a significant impact by saving a penalty in the second half.
With Roefs solidifying his role as Sunderland’s No.1, the pursuit of Ortega has been set aside as Sunderland shifts its focus to strengthening other areas of the team before the transfer deadline.
Additionally, discussions regarding a new contract for midfielder Dan Neil, who has one year remaining on his current deal, are ongoing. Despite the possibility of Neil departing for free next summer, Le Bris remains hopeful that an agreement can be reached before the upcoming transfer window. While Neil rejected interest from various clubs to stay and compete at Sunderland, a resolution between him and the club is still pending.
Overall, Sunderland’s goal is to continue enhancing the squad and securing key players for the future, highlighting their dedication to building a strong team for upcoming seasons.
