Jamie Vardy: Snubbing Arsenal move was easy and Riyad Mahrez should do the same
Leicester and England striker Jamie Vardy has revealed he had no difficulty turning down a summer transfer to Arsenal and has urged team-mate Riyad Mahrez to do the same.
Vardy opted to sign a new contract with the Premier League champions rather than move to north London after the Gunners activated a release clause in his old deal with a £20m bid.
Arsenal record goalscorer Thierry Henry was among those to express surprise at the decision, but the 29-year-old insists there was little soul-searching required.
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“I have always said the boys, the close-knit brotherhood, is unbelievable and for me, there’s a lot of unfinished business here,” he said.
“I feel that the club is only going one way and that is forward – that’s why I want to be a part of it. It wasn’t that big [the decision] when I think about it. It was quite easy and this is where I want to be.”
Players’ player of the year Mahrez has also been linked with Arsenal, but Vardy is hoping the Algeria winger follows his lead and snubs a possible move in favour of committing to Leicester.
“I think everyone in the squad would want him here, playing with us,” Vardy added. “That’s nothing to do with us and it’s down to Riyad and the club to sort out.”
Speculation about Mahrez’s future has been heightened by Leicester’s interest in Poland attacking midfielder Bartosz Kapustka, who caught the eye during Euro 2016.
The Foxes have already made three major signings this summer in German goalkeeper Ron-Robert Zieler, Nigeria forward Ahmed Musa and French midfielder Nampalys Mendy.
Mendy, who arrived from Nice for around £10m, is expected to fill the gap left by N’Golo Kante, who joined Chelsea in a £30m deal.