Newcastle United were reportedly interested in the Sunderland trialist before his excellent performance.
Sunderland boss Simon Grayson has suggested that he is interested in signing goalkeeper Robbin Ruiter after his excellent trial match on Saturday.
The 30-year-old was one of the Black Cats’ best players as Grayson’s troops beat Bradford City 3-2 in a friendly at Valley Parade.
Worryingly for Sunderland though, Newcastle United, their North-East rivals, were said to be interested in Ruiter before his trial – and after that showing there’s no reason why Rafael Benitez won’t be even keener to get him.
Before his trial, HITC Sport reported that Grayson could face competition from the Magpies for his signature and, with Benitez needing at least one keeper, he might well go for him.
Of course, performing well in a trial does not mean a lot, as the Sunderland manager pointed out afterwards, but Ruiter, a free agent after his release from FC Utrecht in the Netherlands, could not have endeared himself to potential employers in a better way.
One thing Sunderland have going for them if their North-East enemies do come knocking is the fact they’re in the Championship.
Newcastle, now in the Premier League, surely wouldn’t use him as their number-one goalkeeper, given the calibre of names – Joe Hart, Adrian, Pepe Reina – who have been linked to St James’s Park this summer.
It is far more likely that he gets first-team football at the Stadium of Light under Grayson and that prospect might be enough to sway him toward the Black Cats.
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