Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri appears to have confirmed to Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport that Jamie Vardy is bound for Arsenal.
It emerged yesterday that the Gunners were prepared to activate a buyout clause in Vardy’s contract worth around £20million, suggesting Arsenal have become more decisive in the transfer window a year after Arsene Wenger was the only manager in Europe’s top five leagues not to sign an outfield player.
Arsenal hope to conclude the outline of a deal for Vardy, including completing a medical examination, before the 29-year-old joins up with the England squad on Monday, though formal confirmation of the deal may not be immediately forthcoming.
News of Arsenal’s interest in the Premier League winner, who turns 30 in January, came as something of a shock to a fanbase not entirely used to seeing experienced English players approaching their twilight years at the Emirates.
But it appears Ranieri, one of the catalysts for a remarkable run of scoring form from Vardy that included a Premier League record streak of 11 games with a goal, has acknowledged that a deal is in the works.
Gazzetta claim that he said “it’s all true” in relation to the Vardy deal, though it is not immediately clear whether Ranieri was referring to Arsenal’s interest or a departure from Leicester for Vardy.
The release clause in Vardy’s contract is reported to apply only to Champions League teams, helping to clear the path for Arsenal’s move. Tottenham would appear an unlikely destination unless Vardy were willing to play second- fiddle to Harry Kane whilst Manchester City’s transfer business has so far been focused on the acquisition of Ilkay Gundogan.
Vardy signed for Leicester in May 2012 in a £1m deal from non-League Fleetwood Town. In four seasons at the King Power he has scored 50 goals, with nearly half of them coming in last season’s title triumph.
COMMENTS