Soccer

Arsenal racing Euro 2016 deadline to sign Jamie Vardy

Arsenal are chasing Leicester's Jamie Vardy 
Arsenal are chasing Leicester's Jamie Vardy  Arsenal are chasing Leicester's Jamie Vardy 

LEICESTER striker Jamie Vardy has been the subject of a bid from Arsenal but the Gunners might struggle to get any proposed deal completed before the England international departs for the European Championships.

PA sports understands that Arsenal have made an offer for Vardy, although it remains unclear if this triggered any release clause in the player's contract.

Should such a clause exist, reported to be £20million, the nature of such caveats could make further reports that Arsenal hope to complete the signing before Vardy jets off to France with Roy Hodgson's squad on Monday somewhat optimistic.

If a deal cannot be finalised over the weekend then Arsenal may have to wait to get their man as England boss Hodgson would not want the distraction of transfer business affecting his squad during the tournament.

Vardy, who in February signed a new three-and-a-half-year deal at Leicester, scored 24 goals to help propel the Foxes to the Barclays Premier League title.

With Euro 2016 beginning next week, Vardy's focus has been on England duty but he may now have a major career decision to make - which aged 29 could be the last chance of a big-money move for a player who was plying his trade for Stocksbridge Park Steels as recently as 2010.

But former Leicester and England striker Gary Lineker has urged him to remain at the King Power Stadium.

He wrote on Twitter: "Stay with the Champions @vardy7 don't join the perennial also-rans."

Leicester were 5,000-1 shots to win the league at the start of the season but defied those enormous odds to finish an astonishing 10 points clear of second-placed Arsenal, who Vardy scored three times against during the campaign.

The Foxes squad gathered at Vardy's home on the night they were confirmed as champions, when Tottenham, who were then their nearest rivals, could only draw 2-2 at Chelsea.

That was perhaps an indication of his central role within the group and to lose their talismanic striker would be a major blow to Leicester and the club's Thai owners, regardless of the money generated from any transfer.

Vardy indicated a month ago that he had no desire to leave Leicester, saying at the time: "We've just won the league and will be playing in the Champions League next year. I am happy here."

While Foxes boss Claudio Ranieri also said in May that he would not stand in the way of any player who wanted to go: "If they go away, it is not good for them. It is much better if they improve another year here and then go wherever they want.

"But I have said so many times if one player comes to me and says 'Gaffer, I want to go', then I leave him to go because it is okay."