West Ham United are weighing up a move for goalkeeper John Ruddy. The 30-year-old has been released by Norwich City and is now a free agent. The Hammers are in need of a goalkeeper and Slaven Bilic might go for him if he fails to secure a decent keeper this summer.
There will be a number of clubs behind him as the goalkeeping situation is something no club wants to take any chance against. Ruddy spent a staggering seven years with the Canaries before the club decided not to renew his contract.
Norwich have released a number of players in an attempt to push them up after an erratic season and as a result, Ruddy got the sack. He would be a good option for Bilic as the Hammers have had their own problems in this section. Both Adrian and Darren Randolph made some cruel mistakes and Bilic wants a permanent solution to this problem.
Ruddy was at Carrow Road since 2010 when he moved to from Everton. He made over 250 appearances for the club across seven seasons. He also has one England cap to his name and a move for him wouldn’t be bad for the Hammers.
Newly promoted side Brighton & Hove Albion are also considering their options for the keeper. David Stockdale’s contract is about to end and the keeper is set to agree to a new contract. If Brighton fails to renew his terms, they might go for Ruddy who will be available for nothing.
Bilic has failed to nail down a permanent keeper as he rotated between Adrian and Randolph. The Hammers recently triggered a clause in Adrian’s contract to keep the shot-stopper at the club for two more years and they now might find it difficult to offload him.
There has been also reports of the Hammers’ interest in Jordan Pickford. The Sunderland keeper is the most sought after player in this summer and has attracted a number of top clubs. The East Londoners were ready to offer Adrian to the Black Cats as a part of the deal but the interest has subsequently cooled off.
However Ruddy does possess prior Premier League experience which makes him a very lucrative option. He will be looking for a club where he will get more first time chances and from that angle, London Stadium would be a suitable choice for the keeper. But is he the right choice for the Hammers?
