Jamie Vardy must not let talks of a move to Arsenal affect him like Steven Gerrard at Euro 2004
Leicester hitman's focus has to be on Euro 2016 or it could be a burden like it was the former Liverpool ace 12 years ago
ROY HODGSON told the players to get their transfer business done early.
The last thing England’s head coach needed was a saga that could rumble on and on before Saturday’s opener with Russia.
But that is exactly what is about to happen after Arsenal made a play for one of English football’s leading strikers.
The text messages — from family, friends and Leicester team-mates — will be flying into Jamie Vardy’s mobile phone.
That is how it works.
His heart will be racing at the prospect of running out at the Emirates next season in one of those famous red and white shirts.
Then there is the emotional pull of playing for Leicester City in their first season in the Champions League.
His head will be spinning, whatever.
England have been here before, with Steven Gerrard courted by Jose Mourinho throughout Euro 2004 in Portugal.
The Special One was on his case, chipping away at the Liverpool captain who should have been concentrating on the tournament.
Gerrard’s lazy back pass in the opening group game against France was intercepted by Thierry Henry, who won a penalty when he was cleaned out by David James.
Was it an innocent mistake, or was his mind on other matters?
Last Thursday, during England’s dire 1-0 win over Portugal, Vardy’s lacklustre display was excused because he was shunted out to the touchline at Wembley.
He had nine touches of the ball — one of them from the kick-off — before he was substituted after 65 minutes.
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With Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger watching from the stands, the wheels were already in motion ahead of the Gunners’ £20million bid for Vardy on Friday.
They have played their part in this because the timing of their offer — irrespective of the clauses in his contract at the King Power Stadium — stinks.
Vardy scored 24 times in the Premier League last season.
And if Wenger wanted him that badly he could have made this happen the day after the Foxes won the title.
Instead, Arsenal waited nearly two weeks, throwing Vardy out of kilter in the build-up to this tournament.
West Ham, another suitor, walked away from a potential deal because the financial terms are out of reach.
The circumstances surrounding Arsenal’s bid are far from ideal.
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Vardy, 29, has had all weekend to think about the move.
But he had yet to make a decision when he met up with the England squad at noon yesterday.
There is a knock-on effect because his missus Rebekah has had it in the neck from Leicester supporters over the proposed move.
He is away from his family now, with his mind in overdrive at the Hotel Auberge du Jeu de Paume.
Hodgson graciously — and generously — allowed Vardy to leave the England team’s preparations for the tournament to get married.
Tying the knot with Arsenal, however, is viewed as an entirely different matter.
Hodgson is in tournament mode now, fully focused as he prepares for the opening Group B game against Russia in Marseilles on Saturday night.
Hodgson spoke about these issues when the squad met up before their first friendly against Turkey last month but Arsenal were undeterred.
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He said: “One thing this group of players know and have accepted is that when you are on England duty, you are on England duty.
“It is not a question of you sorting out your future, or diving off for medicals.
“We control all of that. And you have to accept that there is a good chance that if you say you want to go for a medical then we will say, ‘We are not allowing that and you better bring your people here’.”
One request from Vardy to leave the camp to undergo a medical with Arsenal or to complete the move will ramp up the pressure.
The Leicester forward has pressed pause for now but the wheels whirring in the background threaten to overshadow England’s preparations for the crucial clash with Russia.
It is no way to prepare for a major international tournament.
England arrived in Chantilly, complete with Chris Smalling’s lion in tow, to spend their first night at their five-star hotel.
They were met by a smattering of bemused locals and a cafe owner who raced out with a Tricolore to shout “Allez Les Bleus” as the players got off the bus.
Security is tight here, with armed gendarmes on patrol outside the hotel throughout their stay.
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England’s head coach is hoping that it will be a long one.
It is the perfect hideaway for Hodgson and the players but the pressure will intensify over the next few days.
England have never won their opening group game at the Euros and they need to put that right against Leonid Slutsky’s side.
Hodgson gave his players three days off over the weekend, allowing them to spend some time with their families before they flew to France.
They trained for the first time at their high-security Chantilly base last night, a light session before the serious stuff begins today.
Hodgson and the coaching staff are wired, partly because his future is dependent on the results at this tournament.
Fail here and it will be Hodgson’s turn to be on the move.
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