Arsenal target Jamie Vardy ’80 per cent’ likely to stay at Leicester for next season
Reports suggest England hitman is set to turn down Arsene Wenger's Gunners and play in Foxes' Prem title defence
JAMIE VARDY is "80 per cent" likely to snub Arsenal and stay at Leicester.
Arsene Wenger has met with the striker to discuss a £120,000 contract as he searches for a 20-goal striker.
But the claim the Three Lions striker is leaning towards turning down the Gunners.
Vardy recently signed an £80,000-a-weak deal with Leicester and the club have offered him a rise to fend off interest.
Champions League clubs can offer £20million to trigger a release clause but if Arsenal are not good enough, it appears the 29-year-old may be unobtainable.
Vardy's incredible rise from non-league striker to leading the line for his country has summed up Leicester's fairytale season.
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Claudio Ranieri has fostered an incredible team spirit at the Midlands club.
And it appears fears of a summer exodus with players seeking to cash in on their 5000-1 success was premature.
Roy Hodgson has banned his England players from conducting medicals during their Euro 2016 campaign and Arsenal were unable to complete a deal for Vardy before the tournament.
Wenger is willing to wait for his man but may turn his attentions elsewhere as a deal looks increasingly unlikely.
Theo Walcott's future is tied up with their pursuit of a new striker to join Granit Xhaka as a high-profile summer arrival.
Aside from loyalty to the club that gave him his shot at the big time, Vardy's decision may be influenced by other factors.
He is not guaranteed to start at Arsenal and may want to get as much as possible out of his brief international career, which will rely regular football.
Should the Gunners fail to land their man, Real Madrid striker Alvaro Morata is high on their list of targets.