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According to The Sun, a foreign goalkeeper has arrived at Sunderland for a trial and may play against Bradford at the weekend.
North East reporter for the national newspaper, Alan Nixon, is the man with the gossip from the Stadium of Light again and suggests Simon Grayson may yet move to bring in two senior goalkeepers to supplement his reduced options in goal.
The departure of Vito Mannone to Reading yesterday has exacerbated the Black Cats need for reinforcements between the sticks and following on the heels of Jordan Pickford’s transfer to Everton, Sunderland may yet require a couple of ‘keepers bringing in to the squad.
The identity of the unidentified trialist has not been revealed, but word reaches us that the goalkeeper spending time on Wearside with a view to signing for Sunderland is likely to be Dutch goalie Robbin Ruiter.
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The 30-year-old was released from Eredivise side FC Ultrecht at the end of the season having opted not to extend his contract with the Dutch side and has recently been linked with a move to Belgium with Zulte Waregem and is also said to have had offers from Denmark, Turkey and Greece.
Ruiter has played the majority of his senior career in his native Netherlands, having spent three years at lower league side FC Volendam before signing for Utrecht in 2012. Over 130 appearances followed in the Dutch top tier.
The 6ft 5in ‘keeper played in 25 Eredivisie games last season, his appearances limited by a fractured collarbone sustained in December which essentially finished off his campaign. Ruiter returned to the side in April making just one further outing against AZ Almaar in the final game of the Dutch season.
Vito Mannone exited the Stadium of Light yesterday in a £2m deal bound for Reading and has already headed straight to the airport to catch a flight to Holland to join his Royals teammate on a pre-season trip.
His exit leaves Simon Grayson with just Portuguese stopper Mika Domingues, who remains relatively untested in England, and youngster Max Stryjek to choose from in goal.