Jamie Vardy was on the cusp of completing a move to Arsenal in 2016, but “backed off” after meeting Arsene Wenger, according to a former Arsenal transfer negotiator.
The mercurial striker had just spearheaded Leicester City to their miraculous 2015-16 Premier League title win with a 24-goal haul but was on the Gunners’ radar due to his £20m release clause.
Vardy had just returned from playing for England at Euro 2016 and was edging nearer to a move to the Emirates Stadium when the deal fell through.
The 33-year-old maintained that he was “never” in talks with Arsenal, but Arsenal’s former transfer negotiator, Dick Law, has rubbished these claims.
“The deal with Leicester was done, the deal with the player was done,” Law told The Athletic. “He came down to visit with his wife Rebekah, he sat on the couch in front of Arsene…and then he backed off.
“On his way back to Leicester I get a call from the player saying he wants to think about it overnight. At that point, you know it’s bad news.”
Vardy opted to stay with the Foxes and has continued his fine goalscoring form at the King Power Stadium. He leads the scoring in the Premier League this season with 19 goals and is only one away from joining the elite club who have found the back of the net 100 times in the English top flight.
It is understood he decided to stay with the club as he and newly-wed wife Rebekah had just moved into a new home in Melton Mowbray and were expecting their second child.
Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers recently had his say on why he believes Vardy stayed at the club in 2016. “He’s the type of guy who’s proven himself all his life, all his career, and he’s proven himself to be one of the top strikers in Europe,” Rodgers said.
“It wouldn’t have been because of that [fear of competition], that he didn’t go to Arsenal.
“There were a number of things: he was probably offered a good deal here, felt comfortable here, stable here, his family. It’s an incredible club. Especially with all the paraphernalia around the Premier League.
“This is a club that’s pure in its community spirit, doesn’t get carried away with all the stuff that the Premier League can bring and he’s the type of guy who will have enjoyed that, being looked after.”
