Jamie Vardy decides to stay at Leicester according to Arsenal midfield legend Ray Parlour
'Romford Pele' says that medical and media teams were primed for Vardy to arrive at club's London Colney training ground before he jetted off with England squad for Euro 2016
JAMIE VARDY’S has decided NOT to move to Arsenal.
That is according to Gunners legend Ray Parlour, who was at the club’s London Colney training ground as their medical and media teams prepared for the arrival of Leicester’s title-winning forward.
Arsene Wenger’s Gunners looked to set to clinch Vardy’s signature after triggering his £22million release clause and tabling a £120,000-a-week contract offer.
But Parlour, affectionately known as ‘the Romford Pele’ by Gunners fans, has told talkSPORT that Vardy was set for the move before having a change of heart and heading off to Euro 2016 duty with England.
Parlour said: “It looks like it isn’t happening now.
“I was at the Arsenal the other day and there were big reports flying around, and the club’s cameramen and digital staff had to get down to the training ground.
“So it looked like it was going to happen - there was a medical being done.
“But it seems Vardy thought about it while on England duty, and suddenly there was a U-turn.”
Vardy’s wife Rebekah, who the 24-goal star married during England’s preparations for Euro 2016, has been accused by some fans of trying to sway his decision towards a move to the capital.
But she was non-committal on where his future lay in a TV appearance yesterday in which she denied getting involved.
She said: "Listen, all I can say is Jamie is a grown man, whatever he decides will be right for him in all terms.
"Whether it's the right decision or the wrong decision or indifferent. It's his decision and only he can make that."
Even if Vardy fails to move to the Emirates, one Foxes player that Gunners boss Wenger will continue his pursuit of is N’Golo Kante.
And Wenger has again praised the midfield ace who starred in France’s 2-1 Euro 2016 win in the tournament opener against Romania.
Wenger said: “I admire and like N’Golo Kante a lot. It gives you ideas.
“He gives you the feeling that the higher the level he plays at, the more at ease he is.
“We are talking about numbers. He has the most interceptions in Europe and by far.
“He has incredible quality. He feels the game, only very few people can do that. He’s always where he needs to be.
“It is very rare to have that in the central midfielder. Not always orthodox, but always in the right place.”