Goalkeeper flattered, but pleased to have stayed at Carrow Road.
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Norwich City goalkeeper John Ruddy admits he is flattered to have been targeted by Chelsea this summer, according to the Daily Express.
It has emerged that Blues manager Jose Mourinho approached the 26-year-old shot-stopper with a view to signing him as a backup to first-choice Petr Cech at Stamford Bridge, though he eventually snapped up former Fulham man Mark Schwarzer on a free transfer.
Ruddy says that he is pleased to have stayed with Norwich, who he claims ended negotiations with Chelsea fairly early, as they were not keen to sell their number one ‘keeper.
The England international has been at Carrow Road since 2010, after a frustrating start to his career at Everton, where he struggled to make the breakthrough into the first-team, and spent a great deal of time out on loan at many different lower league clubs.
However, he has really shone at Norwich and his form in the 2011/12 season saw him earn a call-up to the England squad, and he had clearly done enough to impress Chelsea as well.
Ruddy has thanked Chelsea and Mourinho for their interest, though he now says he is just focusing on improving for Norwich.
“But it wasn’t to be. It was all sorted fairly early doors before we started pre-season, so I was ready to get my head down and work hard for Norwich, and to try and maintain my performances that I had last year.”