Wow...what a story. What a shock. Twitter has gone into meltdown since the guardian broke this story at about 6.30 tonight
The latest on this.....and what we know according to the best sources (sky and the guardian)
- Vardy has a £22m release clause negotiated into his £80k a week contract signed in Feb
- It is not thought to be the case that only CL clubs can activate this
- Vardys agents approached a number of top premier league clubs including Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester Utd alerting them of his availability as soon as the season ended
- Vardy spoke to the press only last month to confirm that he is 'happy at the champions' and made a statement in Feb when signing his new contract that he wants to reward Leicester for the faith they showed in him
- Manchester United passed up on the offer to activate the clause and Liverpool, contrary to reports, are said not to be interested
- Arsenal have not yet activated the release clause but have spoken with Vardys agents and are requesting to speak to Leicester.
- A decision will likely be taken in the next 48 hours with Leicester expected to make a counter offer
All of this feels like an agent doing his job - which is to utilise the opportunity (premier league champions) to get a better deal. That release clause will have been negotiated with Leicester and sanctioned by the club so this is something Leicester would have expected to happen
The question now is - do Leicester feel Vardy at 29 is worth £100k plus in wages - or have they got musa lined up to replace him?
Vardy to Arsenal - The Latest
posted on 4/6/16
comment by Blackstarr (U12353)
posted 21 minutes ago
Nuneaton - I agree with you except for the fact that he didn't need to come out only last month and say that he wants to stay. He didn't need to make grand statements in Feb about his paying back the loyalty in him shown by the club and that his future is with Leicester
It's not that I wouldn't understand the reasons for moving, but no one forced him to make those statements. He sat there only 3 weeks ago in a press conference saying that he wants to stay. Why on earth say that when you know that your agent is hawking you around to the top clubs?
He clearly didn't want to stay if his reps negotiated such a clause in and were alerting Arsenal to his availability.
Just don't lead the fans a merry dance is all I'm saying - don't say one thing and then do another. And before people make out its just part and parcel of football, I honestly can't think of another situation quite like this one.
The club more than doubled his wages only 15 weeks ago with some excessive add ons as I understand it. Is this move coming from Vardy or is he being pushed by his agent?
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BS - I note your comments but it's football, it happens. If this transfer goes ahead then it won't make any difference to what I think of him, and the debt of gratitude we owe for helping to deliver Leicester's best season ever.
I can see you feel differently, but there wouldn't be any bitter taste in my mouth.
posted on 4/6/16
Fair enough Nuneaton but can you think of a similar case to this one? A high profile player signs a new deal, publicly says he wants to stay and reward the loyalty shown in him and then engineers a move 15 weeks later?? (If he does leave of course)
Give me some like for like examples and I'll believe this is just part and parcel of football. Don't confuse this with a berahino to Spurs situation or even sterling to man city. Neither players signed a new contract weeks earlier and committed their futures publicly.
That is what makes this, even by football standards, unusual. It makes me think that It's his agent who wants a move and is convincing the player to leave a club where he is happy? Or that Vardy has been playing the fans all along.....
posted on 4/6/16
Happened in rugby league a few years back.
Back when sonny bill williams was playing for the bulldogs, signed a bumper contract making him the highest paid player in the league then two weeks later walked out and joined a French rugby union side.
Not football, but it's a common trend amongst modern day sport now, unfortunately.
posted on 4/6/16
Sounds like it's imminent then BS?
posted on 4/6/16
comment by CDUBYA (U17121)
posted 41 minutes ago
Sounds like it's imminent then BS?
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It's definitely got legs this one and by all accounts it may need to happen within the next 48 hours according to some detail in his release clause and the fact Roy wants transfer dealings done before the euros
He's asked for the release clause so you would think he wants the move or his agent does
posted on 4/6/16
Woy can want whatever he wants but it has nothing to do with him. This is between Arsenal, Leicester, and Leicester city's player.
If it happens to be an inconvenience to woy then tough titties.
posted on 4/6/16
comment by Tiddles LFC (U17634)
posted 1 minute ago
Woy can want whatever he wants but it has nothing to do with him. This is between Arsenal, Leicester, and Leicester city's player.
If it happens to be an inconvenience to woy then tough titties.
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Vardy will want it done and dusted asap as well you would have thought. He isn't going to want that dragging on through the euros.
If there is a deal to be done then the reports suggest it will be done by Monday am. Ranieri has confirmed the bid this morning and talks have begun
posted on 4/6/16
I wonder what's going through the minds of aspiring season ticket holders for the coming season, the intention being that they would be laying down their hard earned cash hoping to see Vardy trotting out at the start of the new season.
There will be all those who worshipped him last year, splashed the dosh-in large quantities-over the past 6-10 months on merchandise bearing his name only to contemplate throwing it on to an unwanted pile of linen. They will, indeed, be frustrated if not angry and who can blame them if they are.
If he wants to go then so be it-the scouts will already have done or be in the process of finding an adequate replacement. If we lose Vardy and perhaps one other then I should hope the club will draw the line there. I do not want to see City turn into some Burnleyesque conveyor belt from years gone by (though finances were behind their need to sell to survive-not the case at the KP), producing stars from nothing and pushing them out. Were that ever to be the case my interest in the club would wane without a doubt.
posted on 4/6/16
Comment Deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 4/6/16
Not really sure if Vardy's speedy style would fit into Arsenal's practice of taking about five minutes to move the ball up the field?