It’s the on-again/off-again transfer rumour of the year – but we might finally be close to a definitive answer as to whether Jamie Vardy will move to Arsenal.
For the past three weeks, there has been an onslaught of rumour, speculation and outright fabrications about Vardy’s intentions, ever since Guardian journalist Stuart James reported that the Gunners had triggered the release clause in the 29-year-old striker’s Leicester City contract.
Understand that Arsenal have triggered the release clause in Jamie Vardy's contract. Leicester still determined to keep hold of him.
— Stuart James (@stujames75) June 3, 2016
If @vardy7 comes to @Arsenal we will win the league
— JH (@Josh_Harvey8) June 3, 2016
For less than 20m, signing Vardy makes sense. If he can repeat last season's form aagin, we'll win the league. Just like United did with RVP
— Abayomi Aje (@yommys01) June 3, 2016
Olivier Giroud seemed to more or less confirm that Vardy was joining. “I have been told that Jamie wants to join us and it’s very good news for us. I think we can be complimentary and that’s all I can say,” the Frenchman told Sky Sports. “As I said in the past I am happy with competition. We have always had fantastic strikers at Arsenal and I want the best for this club. Hopefully he is going to help us win this title.”
Arsene Wenger has now given an interview with a Chinese news outlet that suggests very firmly that Vardy is going nowhere.
“Jamie Vardy is, at the moment, at Leicester and from what I know he will stay at Leicester,” Wenger tells the interviewer when asked about the player.
However, the origins of the video are at the moment uncertain, as well as when exactly they date from.
For his part, Vardy has indicated that he won’t be making any decision – or at the very least any announcement about his future – until after the Euros.
“I am here completely focused on England,” he said at the start of the tournament. “I want to stay focused. We’re here to represent England and that’s all I want to think about.”
