Wolves close in on signing goalkeeper John Ruddy
Wolves are poised to sign ex-Norwich goalkeeper John Ruddy on a free transfer, the Express & Star understands.
The 30-year-old is due to become the seventh signing of the summer after the captures of Ruben Neves and Willy Boly from Porto on Saturday morning.
England international Ruddy had been in talks with Wolves' Championship rivals Sunderland, it is believed, but has favoured a move to Molineux.
If the deal gets over the line he will be the second ex-Norwich free agent to join Wolves this summer. Centre half Ryan Bennett did the same in May when he became the first signing of the Nuno Espirito Santo era.
It's understood that Wolves were already closing in on signing Ruddy before Thursday's devastating announcement that number one goalkeeper Carl Ikeme has been diagnosed with acute leukaemia.
They have been in the market for goalkeepers all summer after electing to let Andy Lonergan move on, although the 33-year-old has yet to find a new club.
Ruddy spent seven years at Carrow Road, making 243 appearances including many in the Premier League.
He said of his exit: "It's disappointing obviously, but I think the direction that the club needs to go, it's a rebuild in structure.
"For reasons other than football, it was a decision that was made.
"The club did have the option on me, but mitigating circumstances within that contract meant that it was probably impossible for the club to uphold that."
Ex-Wolves boss Paul Lambert signed Ruddy for Norwich in 2010 from Everton for £250,000.
He won his only England cap in a friendly against Italy in August 2012. Three months earlier he had been named in Roy Hodgson's squad for Euro 2012 before a broken finger ruled him out of the tournament.
In total Ruddy has made 388 career appearances, having started his career with Cambridge United before a move to Everton in 2005 which saw him spend time on loan at several lower league clubs.
