Arsenal hope to complete Jamie Vardy transfer in next 24 hours

Flipping heck, this Jamie Vardy to Arsenal story isn't half heating up fast.

Last night the internet combusted when it was reported that the Gunners had activated the Leicester striker's £20m release clause in an attempt to prize him away from the newly crowned champions of England. Vardy scored 24 league goals to propel the Foxes to towards their first Premier League title, now it seems Arsene Wenger wants the shock deal wrapped up in the next 24 hours. According to John Cross in The Mirror talks have accelerated rapidly and Arsenal will offer the striker a considerable increase to his current £80,000-a-week contract to ensure they get their main before he departs for Euro 2016 on Monday. With guaranteed Champions League football with Leicester next season, Vardy hardly needs a move, but he turns 30 in January and will know that the opportunity to play for a club of Arsenal's stature may not present itself again. Roy Hodgson does not want any of his squad distracted by negotiations or medicals while they are on international duty, and it's reported that Arsenal were told last month that Vardy wants a four-year deal worth more than £100,000 a week. It's certainly not a move that anyone expected to happen – Vardy committed his future to Leicester by signing a contract extension in February – but if it materialises it would represent yet another remarkable twist in the tale of Jamie Vardy's meteoric ascent through the ranks of English football.