Sunderland are poised to sign Robbin Ruiter on a free transfer.
Sunderland boss Simon Grayson has told the Shields Gazette that goalkeeper Robbin Ruiter is undergoing a medical with the club today ahead of penning a deal with the club.
Grayson has been active in the transfer market since becoming Black Cats boss in June, with Jason Steele, Tyias Browning, Brendan Galloway, Aiden McGeady, James Vaughan and Lewis Grabban all arriving.
However, having suffered relegation from the Premier League last season, Sunderland understandably want further reinforcements, with Grayson targeting another goalkeeper even after signing Steele from Blackburn.
Jordan Pickford was sold to Everton in a big-money deal earlier this summer, whilst Vito Mannone has joined Reading and Mika appears to be something of a forgotten man at the Stadium of Light.
Now, after Steele struggled in last weekend’s thrashing at the hands of Celtic, Sunderland are poised to bring in another goalkeeper in free agent Robbin Ruiter.
Ruiter, 30, made his name in his native Netherlands with Volendam before joining Utrecht in 2012, spending five years there and making 137 appearances for the club.
This summer, Ruiter has been on trial with Sunderland this summer having seen his Utrecht contract expire, and he appears to have done enough to earn a permanent deal at the Stadium of Light and challenge Steele for first-team football.
Sunderland boss Grayson has told the Sunderland Echo that Ruiter has been undergoing a medical today and will hopefully complete his move by the end of the day, though it could be a swift turnaround for him to feature against Derby on Friday.
“He’s having a medical this afternoon so we’re hoping we get it completed today and he becomes our player,” said Grayson. “He impressed us in pre-season, went back to Holland to sort a few issues out and as it stands we are very close to doing a deal.
“It might be a rush for him (Friday) given he probably hasn’t trained since the Bradford game nearly 10 days ago so we’ll see where he is tomorrow morning but it’s probably the bigger picture we’ve got him for rather than Friday,” he added.
Do you think Ruiter is a good signing for Sunderland?
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
