Arsenal Line-Up Bid For England Ace After Being Quoted £15m For Marshall

As we approach the opening of the summer window clubs will be intensifying their efforts in the transfer market so we’ll bring you all the latest news and gossip. Today, Gooner Mac brings us news of Arsenal’s interest in John Ruddy.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is ready to make a £6m move for Norwich City goalkeeper John Ruddy after being quoted £15m by Cardiff City for David Marshall, according to reports.

The boss is on the look-out for a keeper this summer to replace Lukasz Fabianski, with the Polish international set to leave on a free transfer when his contract expires next month.

There has been talk of youngster Damian Martinez being promoted to the first team squad but Wenger is keen to bring in someone who is capable of really pushing first choice Wojeciech Szczesny next season, so he’s drawing up lists of more experienced targets.

Reports earlier in the week claimed that we had enquired about Cardiff’s David Marshall but it seems Wenger has been put off by the Welsh sides £15m valuation and is keen to find a cheaper alternative.

That search appears to have led him to East Anglia as the Daily Mail are reporting that we are lining-up a £6m move for Norwich City stopper John Ruddy after being alerted to his availability following the Canaries relegation to the Championship.

The newspaper suggests that there is a ‘strong willingness’ from the club to push through a deal for the England international as we feel Ruddy’s experience makes his a better bet than Reading’s Alex McCarthy – who has also been identified as a possible target this summer.

I think Ruddy would be an excellent signing as he’d provide real competition for Szczesny next season. The 27-year-old was ever-present for Norwich last season and kept an impressive 12 clean sheets, which is a superb record in a side that ultimately finished in the bottom three.

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There’s no way I’d pay £15m for Marshall, so if we can can pick Ruddy up for £6m then it would be a far better deal. It remains to be seen whether Norwich will be prepared to do business at that price, but it seems likely they’ll have to sell now they will be playing second tier football next season. The only other potential stumbling block will be if Ruddy is willing to join Arsenal and play second-fiddle to Szczesny, or if he’d prefer to join a lesser club and play first team football.