Roker Roundup: Sunderland linked with free transfer move for former Fleetwood Town midfielder

Sunderland linked with Dempsey

Sunderland have been linked with a move for former Fleetwood Town midfielder Kyle Dempsey after he turned down an offer of a new contract with Joey Barton’s side.

Mail Sport claim both Sunderland and recently relegated Hull City are chasing the 24-year-old who is available on a free transfer.

Dempsey made 146 appearances for Fleetwood in all competitions after he signed for the club from Huddersfield Town, scoring six goals and providing 15 assists to team-mates. He had a short spell on loan at Peterborough United during the 2018-19 season

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Ndong amongst Europe’s elite

Dider Ndong may have had an ignominious end to his Sunderland career, after he was sacked by the club, but he has shown this season why a club-record fee was spent on him as he featured for Ligue 1 outfit Dijon.

The defensive midfielder features highly on a list (compiled by @Tw3rcazette) of Europe’s most efficient tacklers during the 2019-20 season with only Barcelona linchpin Sergio Busquests clear of him.

@Tw3rcazette (Twitter)

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Ruiter finds new club

Robbin Ruiter has left PSV Eindhoven after only a year to link up with Willem II as he looks for first team football.

The former Sunderland goalkeeper has signed a two-year deal with the Eredivisie club, with the option of a third and speaking to the club’s official website, Ruiter made it clear that he had to leave PSV so he could play every week:

I had a great time in Eindhoven, but in the end I want to be under the bar every week. That is why I am very happy with this step to Willem II. I expect to be able to play here, although of course I still have to enforce it myself.

Ruiter joins Sunderland academy product and New Zealand international Michael Woud at Willem II, though the young goalkeeper is currently on a year-long long at Almere City.

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