Norwich City were closing to signing goalkeeper Robbin Ruiter before the club decided to sack Alex Neil.

According to VI news, Norwich held talks with the shot-stopper and he was ready to sign for the club.

However, Alex Neil was let go in March, with Alan Irvine taking over the helm – and Sporting Director Stuart Webber decided against the deal.

Webber was brought in from Huddersfield and one of his first actions at the club was to sack the recruitment team.

This means that Webber did not feel Ruiter was a suitable target for the club, leading to the end of their interest in him.

The report does say that Ruiter spent time in Norwich and had positive talks with Neil, meaning he could have been the first summer signing if Neil were still in charge.

Ruiter is a free agent this summer after he was released by Dutch side Utrecht.

The 30-year-old has played over 100 league games for the side since he joined them in 2012.

Interestingly, he only entered the professional game in 2009, when he was just 22.