Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has offered his thoughts on the impact Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy, a player his club continue to be linked with, will have for England at Euro 2016.
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That informal deadline came and went and with England now sharpening their preparations ahead of their opening match against Russian Federation on June 11, Vardy is showing total focus on the task at hand.
“Arsenal don’t get the ball forward quick enough for Jamie Vardy”.
However, a source with knowledge of Walcott’s plans has told ESPN FC that the forward wants to stay and fight for a place at Arsenal, despite the club waiting to hear whether Leicester striker Vardy will accept an offer to join this summer.
“Yeah, of course”, the Mirror quoted King as saying, when asked if he would talk to Vardy and try to stop him from leaving. It was thought that the 29-year-old Vardy would have reached a decision by Monday, but, it seems nothing has been finalized yet.
The 29-year-old is seen as the ideal striking addition for Arsenal, to fill a goalscoring void they’ve had gaping since Robin Van Persie left for Manchester United, but our landlord thinks they may have to look elsewhere.
Vardy is preparing for Euro 2016 in France, which starts on Friday, at England’s training base in Chantilly.
“But even in a team that plays possession soccer, he has that sudden burst of speed and there are a lot of players at Arsenal who will notice that right away and play to that strength of his, like the way they did with (Danny) Welbeck”.
Vardy scored 24 league goals as Leicester won the title last season and picked up the PFA and FWA Player of the Year awards.
“But I don’t think it will affect the squad”.
And with England due to face Russian Federation in Marseilles in their Group B opener on Saturday, Hodgson has made it clear that members of his squad must now be fully focused on playing for their country.
But Vardy is taking time in making a decision, with his current club guaranteed Champions League football – and arguably suiting his style much more than Arsenal would.
Speaking a little over a week ago, he said: “One thing this group of players know and have accepted very well is when you’re on England duty, you’re on England duty”. But as far as we are concerned, our ongoing theme is that England is England, your club is your club.
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Arsenal are believed to be closing in on the signing of a Premier League striker.
