Leicester legend Gary Lineker has urged Jamie Vardy to commit to the club after Arsenal made a move for the England striker.
Vardy has been the subject of a bid from the Gunners that activates a buy-out clause, according to multiple reports on Friday night. His goals spurred Leicester to a stunning Premier League title success and reportedly have attracted Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger to launch an early-summer bid for the 29-year-old frontman.
Former Leicester and England striker Lineker wants Vardy to stay at the King Power Stadium with Claudio Ranieri’s side. Lineker wrote on Twitter: “Stay with the Champions @vardy7 don’t join the perennial also-rans.”
Vardy scored 24 goals in the Foxes’ triumphant campaign, forging a brilliant understanding with Riyad Mahrez, who has been linked with Arsenal in the past.
With Euro 2016 ahead, Vardy’s focus has been on England duty in recent weeks but he may now have a major career decision to make before the finals.
Stay with the Champions @vardy7 don't join the perennial also-rans. https://t.co/Yssd7IiuOS
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) June 3, 2016
The former Halifax and Fleetwood striker has enjoyed a rapid rise to the top of the game and signed a new three-and-a-half year contract with Leicester only in February as the club rewarded him for driving their title bid.
Leicester were 5,000-1 shots to win the league at the beginning of the campaign but defied those odds to finish an astonishing 10 points clear of second-placed Arsenal.
Vardy was playing non-league football until 2010, and the prospect of joining one of England’s biggest club sides could be difficult to turn down, despite Leicester’s achievement in the last 10 months and his affection for the club.
According to the Guardian, the fee for Vardy would be £22 million (Dh117m).
Like Vardy, Lineker was top scorer in the top flight with Leicester before leaving, in his case for Everton in 1985. There was no immediate comment from Leicester, Arsenal or Vardy’s management on the reports of Arsenal’s approach.
Vardy indicated in early May that he had no desire to leave Leicester. He said at the time: “We’ve just won the league and will be playing in the Champions League next year. I am happy here.”
Meanwhile, Leicester yesterday made their first summer signing with the acquisition of goalkeeper Ron-Robert Zieler from Hannover. The 27-year-old Germany international arrives for an undisclosed fee and signs a deal until 2020.
