Brighton and Hove Albion goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen needs to watch out as Sunderland’s Robin Roefs is an undeniable “rising star”.
That’s according to journalists Bran van Polen and Anco Jansen, via Soccer News. They don’t believe the Sunderland goalkeeper will replace the Brighton one for the Netherlands before the World Cup, though.
Verbruggen is the undisputed number one for the Netherlands at this moment in time. That has been the case since last year, when he won the battle with Mark Flekken for the role ahead of Euro 2024.
Now his role is under threat from Roefs, though. He’s been impressing since joining Sunderland in the summer. And while he’s done nothing but shine, Verbruggen has had slightly more rocky times with Brighton.
That’s led to some questions in the Netherlands as to whether Ronald Koeman should consider a change. The belief is that Roefs is now the undisputed number two and pushing Brighton’s goalkeeper hard for the number one role too.
Koeman elected to stick with Verbruggen during this international break, and neither Van Polen nor Jansen see the Sunderland man being brought in before the World Cup. But they do believe he’s a threat to the Brighton goalkeeper.
“I think he’s going to be a rising star,” said Jansen.
“There’s no reason to substitute Verbruggen. But I think, in the long run, Roefs is the better goalkeeper.”
“You don’t substitute him as easily as you do a player,” added Van Polen.
“Those guys often experience a completely different kind of pressure, so I really wouldn’t be in favour of that. If Koeman feels good about Verbruggen, just leave him there.”
