With Granit Xhaka already in the bag, Arsenal have now turned their attentions to Premier League winner Jamie Vardy, with the Gunners bidding around £20million for the striker.
The Guardian’s Stuart James dropped the story on Friday afternoon, reporting that in bidding between £20-22million for Vardy, Arsenal had triggered the player’s release clause for the Leicester City star.
Understand that Arsenal have triggered the release clause in Jamie Vardy’s contract. Leicester still determined to keep hold of him.
— Stuart James (@StuartJamesGNM) June 3, 2016
Arsene Wenger and co. are now apparently in talks with the Foxes over the future of the 29-year-old with a £120,000-a-week deal on the table, as the Gunners look to strengthen their forward line ahead of the new season. Although Leicester are, unsurprisingly, thought to be eager to hold on to their star performer.
The Leicester Mercury are also reporting that Liverpool are interested in Vardy and have even bettered Arsenal’s wage offer (£140,000-a-week), only to find that the striker’s release clause is only available to clubs in the Champions League.
With Olivier Giroud once again failing to convince for Arsenal in 2015/16, a mobile and potent striker is just what the Gunners need. While Vardy may be pushing thirty and is hardly a classic Wenger target, a couple of good seasons and a potential Premier League title would be well worth the £20million.
As for Vardy himself, one wonders if the forward, who joined Leicester from Fleetwood in 2012, will see a potential move to Arsenal as both a step up and a final chance to play for a traditionally ‘big club’, or if he’ll want to stay faithful to Claudio Ranieiri and co. next season.