Jamie Vardy to Arsenal: Leicester target Watford captain Troy Deeney in bid to replace striker
Deeney scored 13 times in the Premier League this season, but could link-up with Vardy if he decides to stay
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Your support makes all the difference.As Arsenal close in on England striker Jamie Vardy, Leicester are already making plans for his potential departure after identifying Watford captain Troy Deeney as a possible replacement, should Vardy choose to leave the Premier League champions.
Leicester will attempt to keep Vardy at the King Power Stadium by making him a last-ditch contract offer to reward him for his form this season that proved a major factor in the Foxes winning the Premier League title.
Arsenal have offered a contract worth over £100,000-a-week to 29-year-old Vardy in an effort to convince him to move to London and lead the Gunners’ attack next season, where Arsene Wenger will hope to end the 13-year wait for his fourth Premier League title success.
According to The Telegraph, Leicester are making sure that transfer plans are already active in the event of Vardy’s departure, with 27-year-old Deeney catching the eye of manager Claudio Ranieri.
Should Vardy decide to stay at the club and turn down a move to Arsenal, it’s added that Leicester will continue with plans to try and sign Deeney in the hope that the English pair would form their strike partnership next season.
It’s claimed that Deeney would set Leicester back around £15m, but while Deeney is more than happy to remain at Watford given his comfort with leading the Hornets, the chance to play in the Champions League would likely prove too much to turn down.
Deeney scored 13 goals in the top flight this season as Watford surged clear of the relegation dogfight, having been promoted from the Championship the season before. Despite manager Quique Sanchez Flores being sacked by the club at the end of the season and Walter Mazzarri being appointed as his replacement, Deeney remains committed to the club that handed him a second chance after he served a three-month prison sentence in 2012.
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