Leicester striker Jamie Vardy will find it “impossible” to say no to Arsenal and stay at the King Power Stadium, according to Tony Cascarino.
The 29-year-old finished last season as the Premier League’s second-top goalscorer, with his blistering form central to the Foxes’ unlikely title triumph.
And Vardy’s eye for goal has attracted interest from Arsene Wenger, with the Gunners hoping to complete a deal for the striker before he joins up with the England squad later today.
Leicester legend Gary Lineker has urged Vardy to reject Arsenal’s advances while manager Claudio Ranieri has asked his players to stay put for at least one more season after securing Champions League qualification.
But Cascarino is adamant Vardy, who was playing non-league football as recently as 2012, will be unable to ignore the lure of the Emirates Stadium at such a late stage of his career.
“At his age it’s just impossible for him to say no [to Arsenal],” Cascarino told The Times.
“It’s a golden opportunity for him to become a better player and have a better experience as a professional, playing at such a big club.
“A football career can be 15 years if you are lucky but his career at the very top will be much shorter because of his journey from the bottom.
“Unfortunately for Leicester, Vardy has no choice – he cannot say no when a club like Arsenal comes knocking.
“Leicester won’t be happy about it; last season was a fairytale year for them, but unfortunately fairytales aren’t real.”
Olivier Giroud has spoken of his desire to link up with Vardy at Arsenal and Cascarino is adamant the calibre of players who have previously plied their trade in north London will influence the Englishman’s decision.
“To wear that famous shirt, which legends like Thierry Henry, Ian Wright and Dennis Bergkamp have played in, will be a big incentive for him too,” he added.
Wenger rarely shells out for ageing players, with youngsters boasting rich potential often more appealing to the French coach, but Cascarino suspects an approach for Vardy is designed to finally end the Gunners’ title drought.
“Wenger wants to do what other managers have done to him in the past – spend big on a 29-year-old striker and reap the benefits.
“[Robin] Van Persie left Arsenal at 29 for £24m, and [Sir Alex] Ferguson was able to retire as a champion thank to the Holland striker’s goals,” he added.
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