Ex-technical director says first-team offer helped Sunderland land Robin Roefs over West Ham | OneFootball

Trouw reports that former NEC Nijmegen technical director Carlos Aalbers says Sunderland secured goalkeeper Robin Roefs by offering immediate first-team football, edging out interest from West Ham United and Napoli.

The 23-year-old has impressed in his debut season on Wearside. He joined from NEC Nijmegen for £11.5 million in the summer.

Aalbers said Roefs attracted broader attention in the second half of last season and at the European Championship with the Netherlands under-21s.

He added that other suitors viewed him as a longer-term option, while Sunderland were determined and ready to install him as number one, and that NEC set a competitive price after tracking him for years.

Voetbalzone relayed analyst Johan Derksen’s view that Ajax and PSV Eindhoven will regret not moving for Roefs before his switch to England.

He argued the 23-year-old should be the Netherlands’ number one going forward, calling him the best goalkeeper and questioning why leading Dutch clubs did not act.

Source: Sunderland Echo