(Credit: Manh Tung, Breaking Media, Imago)
(Credit: Manh Tung, Breaking Media, Imago)
Transfers

Exclusive: Sunderland deal agreed with record £50m bid expected

Wayne Veysey
Wayne Veysey

Founder & Managing Director AUTHORITY Former chief correspondent at Evening Standard, Goal and Press Association with nearly three decades in national, regional and digital news and sports journalism. Wayne directs the network’s news strategy and high-level operations. FOCUS Editorial direction for the 11-site network and newsroom management. THE BRIEF Wayne oversees the network’s editorial standards across the network. He provides the final sign-off on all headline scoops, ensuring content across all platforms meets the standards required for a high-velocity newsroom.

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Sunderland completed the January signing of Melker Ellborg as they are expecting a £50million-plus summer bid for Robin Roefs, sources have told Football Insider.

The north-east club landed the 23-year-old from Malmo as part of a goalkeeper succession plan.

Sources say Sunderland are aware of extensive interest in Roefs from the Premier League elite, led by Man City, Liverpool and Chelsea.

The Black Cats are expecting huge offers for their keeper in the summer window.

Roefs has been a standout performer for Sunderland so far this season, but there is a serious risk that they could lose him in future transfer windows.

Robin Roefs among Premier League's top goalkeepers

Roefs only arrived at Sunderland in the summer, but he has quickly made a name for himself at the Stadium of Light in his opening months with his new club.

The Dutchman has been in excellent form for the Wearsiders so far this term, and he has already kept eight clean sheets from the opening 24 league games in 2025-26.

Roefs' performances since joining Sunderland have already seen him win admirers from some of the powerhouses of the Premier League, and his stats back up the impressive start that he has made in England.

The former NEC Nijmegen man boasts the second-highest save percentage in the league at the moment, while also ranking inside the top five of goalkeepers when it comes to both saves per 90 and goals conceded per 90.

A graphic showing the stats behind Sunderland goalkeeper Robin Roefs' performances in 2025-26.
Roefs has been a standout gloveman this year. (Credit: Imago, Fotmob)

Regis Le Bris' side have the shot-stopper under contract until the summer of 2030, but they are aware of the fact that the wealth of interest could be hard for them to resist, especially if it continues to grow.

Sunderland loan out Simon Adingra in last-gasp deal

Football Insider revealed on deadline day that Simon Adingra was undergoing a medical at Monaco ahead of a potential move away from Sunderland.

That move was ultimately sealed in the latter stages of deadline day, with the winger moving to join the French side on a loan deal until the end of the season.

Adingra has netted one goal for Sunderland from 14 league appearances so far this season, but hadn't started a league game for his parent club since 10 January.

He will now spend the next few months plying his trade in Ligue 1, before Monaco will then get the chance to exercise their option to buy him as part of the agreement.

Sunderland AFC
Robin Roefs
Melker Ellborg
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