Exclusive: Chelsea to accelerate transfer plans for Sunderland star

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Credit: Imago Exclusive: Chelsea accelerate Robin Roefs transfer plan Sat 7 March 2026 19:00, UK Chelsea are accelerating their “concrete” interest in Robin Roefs, sources have told Football Insider.The Stamford Bridge recruitment team are prioritising the signing of a new goalkeeper this summer who is capable of becoming the new number one.Roefs, 23, has had an outstanding season for Sunderland and is seen by Chelsea’s scouts as being capable of playing for a Champions League-calibre club.There is however intense interest in the Dutchman from the Premier League elite and he is also believed to be on the radar of Liverpool and Man City.Football Insider recently revealed that Sunderland value Roefs at £50million, with the club expecting bids.The goalkeeper joined the Black Cats in August 2025 and has been their number one so far this season, and now Chelsea’s ambitious transfer plans could see him on the move yet again. MORE FOOTBALL INSIDER STORIES Who is Robin Roefs?Before his move to Sunderland, Roefs was a goalkeeper at Dutch side NEC Nijmegen.He came through the ranks at the side before becoming a first-teamer in the 2023-24 campaign.The following season, he was made their number one and was included in the Eredivisie Team of the Month in both March and May 2025.After helping NEC achieve an eighth-place finish, he earned a move to Sunderland, where he quickly dislodged Anthony Patterson as the number one.Take a bow, Robin Roefs 🤯🇳🇱 pic.twitter.com/brunDnMdBl— Sunderland AFC (@SunderlandAFC) January 11, 2026 In his debut season in the Premier League, he has massively impressed, and Roefs have kept eight clean sheets in 28 games to date, only conceding 34 goals in the division.His save percentage rate is also the third highest in the division at present, at 71.4 per cent, with only Gianluigi Donnarumma and Emi Martinez bettering it.On top of this, Roefs is likely to only get better, with the goalkeeper still being early in his career.Are Chelsea set for another summer of heavy spending?Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, ex-Everton, Aston Villa, and Aberdeen chief executive Keith Wyness believes that there could be the biggest exodus in Premier League history at Chelsea in the summer after their recent financial loss.The Blues record a pre-tax loss of £342m in figures released by UEFA, which was a huge blow.Revenue has not been keeping up with costs at the Premier League club, with BlueCo having spent over £1billion since taking control in 2022.As a result, if Rosenior wants to bring in Roefs, he will have to oversee some departures at Stamford Bridge.If not, Chelsea could find themselves missing out on the goalkeeper, especially if other clubs enter the race for his signature as the transfer window edges closer. 🦁 Don’t Miss a Beat: Your Chelsea Insider Access Get the full story from Stamford Bridge and Cobham with our dedicated expert hubs: Updated 24/7 with expert analysis from West London.