Arsenal aim to wrap up deal for Leicester’s Jamie Vardy this weekend before England travel to Euro 2016
Arsenal are in talks with Leicester City about triggering Jamie Vardy's release clause and want to complete any deal for the England striker this weekend.
City A.M. understands that although negotiations are still in their early stages, Arsenal want to have the transfer wrapped up before Vardy travels to France for Euro 2016 with the rest of the England squad on Monday.
Vardy is yet to agree terms with Arsenal, who first need to resolve discussions with Premier League champions Leicester over a release clause in his contract reported to be in the region of £20m.
Yet Arsenal want to make the 29-year-old their man within the next 36 hours as they aim to complete their summer window activity earlier than usual.
Read more: Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis admits club has funds to sign world-class players
The No9 fired Leicester to an historic Premier League title last season with 24 goals and broke the record of goals scored in consecutive games, notching in 11 consecutive matches.
All action Swiss midfielder Granit Xhaka has already arrived at the Emirates for £30m and Arsenal are targeting one more signing after Vardy to complete their summer purchases.
Such an approach is a marked change to previous transfer windows in which Arsenal have waited until August or even September before making new signings.
Xhaka's arrival last week was the earliest the club had completed an off-season deal for nine years and followed a summer in which the Gunners were the only club in Europe's top five leagues not to buy an outfield player.
Any further incomings this year will likely only be to replace players sold. A new left-back will be targeted to replace Kieran Gibbs, who has been told he is free to look for another club, should the 26-year-old decide to leave the club he joined as a teenager.
Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis has said that the club's healthy finances mean they can "go and sign world-class players if and when the manager identifies them."
However, he also warned that Leicester's success last season made it clear that "the big spending was not the solution to all problems".