Wenger discusses failed attempts to sign Vardy

Matt Stead

Arsene Wenger insists he has no regrets about his inability to convince Jamie Vardy to join Arsenal last summer.

The Gunners publicly sought Vardy’s signature after the striker fired Leicester to an improbable Premier League title with 24 goals.

Arsenal were thought to have made a £20million bid for the England international, while Leicester offered him a new contract.

The decision was left to Vardy, who eventually opted to sign a new deal at the King Power Stadium, rejecting Arsenal’s overtures.

The Gunners face Leicester on Wednesday, and when Wenger was asked whether he had planned to make Vardy his main striker, he replied: “No, he was one of the strikers available. When you come to a big club you can’t guarantee that to anybody.

“I believe we did what we wanted to do [in trying to persuade him to join].

“No [I do not regret not signing him]. Transfers, successful or not successful are part of it.

“You have to accept the decisions of the player. He made that decision and I respect that completely, you have to move forward and look at something else.”