SIMON GRAYSON has warned new signing Jason Steele he will have to battle against Robbin Ruiter for the right to be Sunderland’s number one next season.

Steele completed a £500,000 switch from Blackburn Rovers on Wednesday, but while the former Middlesbrough trainee joins Mika and Max Stryjek on the Black Cats’ books, Grayson remains determined to increase his options even further by signing Ruiter.

Having impressed in last weekend’s 3-2 win at Bradford City, Ruiter caught the eye again last night as his last-gasp save enabled Sunderland to claim a goalless draw with Scunthorpe United.

The Dutchman is a free agent following his release from Utrecht, and Grayson is hoping to tie him down to a permanent contract within the next 24 hours. The Black Cats boss has already spoken to Ruiter and his representatives, with the 30-year-old set to remain in Sunderland’s squad for Saturday’s final pre-season friendly against Celtic.

Steele boasts extensive experience of the Championship, having made more than 250 league starts for Blackburn and Middlesbrough, while Ruiter has never played outside Holland. Nevertheless, Grayson insists the identity of his goalkeeper for the opening league game against Derby County is anything but a foregone conclusion.

“He (Ruiter) has impressed,” said the Sunderland boss, who has been linked with a possible move for former Black Cats defender Alan Hutton. “He’s been very composed and done everything required. He’s made good saves when he’s had to, he’s been very good.

“We’ll analyse the situation, talk to his representatives and see if there’s a deal to be done. I think we were always looking to bring two in, with Jordan (Pickford) and Vito (Mannone) going out.

“Who will be number one? Neither. That’s how it always has to be. Last year at Preston, I started with Anders Lindegaard from Manchester United, and after seven games, brought in a free transfer from Fleetwood (Chris Maxwell), who was one of the best players we had. Competition for places, whether goalkeepers or whatever, that’s what it is all about.”

As well as keeping his goalkeepers on their toes, Grayson has also been keen to ensure additional competition in the attacking positions.

Lewis Grabban’s season-long loan from Bournemouth follows James Vaughan’s £500,000 move from Bury, and should help reduce the reliance on untried duo Joel Asoro and Josh Maja.

Grabban arrives with a point to prove after he was deemed surplus to requirements at Bournemouth, but having scored 22 goals in a season when the Cherries were first promoted to the Championship, the 29-year-old boasts a proven pedigree in the second tier.

“Lewis is still going to be a little bit short in terms of fitness because when you’re bringing in players nine days before the start of the season, they’ve probably not played a great deal of football,” said Grayson, who confirmed Sunderland are still to receive a formal offer for Jeremain Lens. “But we will work with him.

“What he’s got is energy, work rate and experience, which we need in the group because we’re a young group. He knows what it’s all about, so he’ll be a very good addition to us.

“He played in the play-off final last year for Reading, and has a winning mentality. He can play as a centre-forward or a wide player, so he gives us adaptability.”

Grayson remains keen to add at least one more forward, with Aston Villa’s Ross McCormack and Preston’s Jordan Hugill remaining in his sights.

Sunderland officials have discussed McCormack’s position with their counterparts at Villa Park, and are hoping to engineer a season-long loan deal for the Scotsman. They face competition from other clubs in the Championship though, with Reading also known to be interested.

Birmingham City are rivalling Sunderland for Hugill’s signature, with Harry Redknapp having made an unsuccessful £2.5m bid for the North-Easterner last week.

“Jordan has been a complete professional through this whole process,” said Preston boss Alex Neil. “If I’m being honest, there is nothing to talk about, there are no offers in right now. What was put in was rejected, and that is basically where we are.”