Sunderland have had South Shields defender Wouter Verstraaten on trial at the club this week.
As first reported by Roker Report, Chronicle Live have had it confirmed by a source that South Shields allowed the versatile centre-back to train with the Black Cats as a trialist.
Verstraaten, 23, came through the esteemed PSV Eindhoven academy, and has also played for FC Eindhoven, Pacific Tigers and Portland Timbers’ Under-23s.
He joined Northern League side Consett at the start of this season after moving to the region to study at Durham University - where it's said he took a step back from his football career to put his education first.
But his performances at Consett caught the eye of Northern Premier Division side who made the move to sign him.
Sunderland manager Phil Parkinson admitted during his press conference on Thursday that Sunderland were considering their options after Bailey Wright's season was ended prematurely due to injury. He said they will consider a free agent signing if they can find someone who would be fit enough.
Vestraaten would certainly fit that bill, having impressed so far for the Mariners and being described by joint-manager Lee Picton recently as a “Rolls-Royce of a defender”.
But it's not known if Vestraaten is under contract at South Shields or if he would be free for Sunderland to sign immediately. A source simply told Chronicle Live that South Shields had given him permission to train with the Wearsiders as a trialist, but he was still a South Shields player.
Rather than a potential replacement for Wright, Sunderland could be just taking a look at a player who they could potentially offer a contract to in the future, when the next transfer window opens in July.
