Striker Deeney on Leciester’s radar if last-gasp bid to keep Arsenal target Jamie Vardy fails
LEICESTER will turn to Troy Deeney if a last-ditch bid to keep Jamie Vardy fails, according to reports.
Arsenal are aiming to seal a £20million four-year deal for the England striker before Roy Hodgson’s side jet off to France today.
But according to , the Foxes are prepared to offer Vardy, 29, an increase on his £80,000-a-week contract after the Gunners promised him a 50 per cent rise.
Should Claudio Ranieri lose his top goalscorer, Watford powerhouse Deeney is being lined up as a potential replacement.
The 13-goal striker, 27, formed a formidable partnership with Odion Ighalo as the Hornets dodged relegation and reached the FA Cup semi-finals.
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Even if Vardy stays, £15m Deeney may be added to the Foxes squad. He is happy at Vicarage Road but would find Champions League football a huge draw.
Ranieri could lose his two brightest attacking prospects from last season with Riyad Mahrez also in talks with Arsenal.
Both Mahrez and Vardy have release clauses in their contracts — making it impossible for Leicester to keep their title-winning team in tact.
England boss Roy Hodgson has warned his players they cannot put transfers ahead of their commitments to the national side at Euro 2016.
And Arsene Wenger is keen to thrash out a deal as soon as possible — but is confident he can force through a move during the tournament.
Gunners striker Olivier Giroud is relaxed by the prospect of Vardy’s arrival.
The Frenchman scored twice against Scotland as the Euros hosts laid down a marker.
He said: “I have been told that Jamie wants to join us and it’s very good news for us — I think we can be complimentary,” said Giroud. “He’s a fantastic player, so it’s good news for us.”
“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.
“The boss wanted to sign at least one or two strikers, so I expected a top striker and I think it will benefit the club and hopefully he is going to score a lot of goals like he did at Leicester.”