Vardy ‘angers’ FA with new Leicester deal

Matt Stead

Jamie Vardy has ‘angered’ the Football Association after it was announced that he would sign a new four-year deal at Leicester.

Arsenal had courted striker Vardy throughout the summer, triggering his £20m release clause, but it was announced on Thursday that he had decided to stay with the Premier League champions.

It was previously reported that the striker’s future would only be decided after Euro 2016, where he has scored once in two appearances.

But Leicester released a statement on their website on Thursday reporting that a four-year deal had been agreed with Vardy’s representatives, and that he would sign the contract after he returned from international duty in France.

According to Matt Lawton of the Daily Mail, the timing of this announcement has ‘angered the England hierarchy’.

‘FA staff feel there was no need to make the announcement with the tournament still going on,’ writes Lawton, ‘but the clubs argue the timing is acceptable, given England now know they will play Iceland in the last 16 in Nice on Monday.

‘Leicester reacted to Arsenal’s offer of £120,000 per week by making a counter bid worth around £100,000 a week and Vardy will sign once Euro 2016 is over.

‘The Premier League champions contacted the FA on Wednesday night before issuing a statement that was phrased to suggest the striker had little involvement in making perhaps the most important decision of his career.

‘The FA suggested the timing was less than ideal given England were just four days away from their last-16 encounter with Iceland, but the announcement nevertheless went ahead.’

Lawton adds that Vardy’s decision to stay could influence the futures of Riyad Mahrez and N’Golo Kante, who could now choose to remain at the King Power Stadium.