CHELSEA TARGET VARDY TIME

Blues ready to make shock bid for England striker

CHELSEA are considering a shock bid for Leicester striker Jamie Vardy.

The champions are keen to bolster their attack, with Diego Costa in exile and uncertainty over Michy Batshuayi’s future. They have made no secret of their desire to sign Vardy’s Foxes team-mate Danny Drinkwater, and now the Stamford Bridge outfit are showing an interest in the England forward as well in a double raid.

The 30-year-old (left) scored 24 goals when the Foxes won the title 15 months ago and followed it up with 13 Premier League goals last season. He is already off the mark in this campaign after a

double in the opening-day defeat at Arsenal and has six in 16 England games.

Vardy’s age and cost fit into Chelsea director

Marina Granovskaia’s plan to run the club on a more sustainable basis. At 30, the striker could be available for £25million.

Granovskaia and Blues boss Antonio Conte have held a series of meetings this summer over transfer targets, with Roman Abramovich’s trusted aide calling the shots.

She feels there is better value in signing either younger players or older players, rather than paying top dollar for stars in their prime.

Summer arrivals such as £70m Alvaro Morata, £35m Tiemoue Bakayoko, and £31m Antonio Rudiger fit that bracket, while they also brought in ex-manchester City keeper Willy Caballero on a free.

The west Londoners are also keen on Vardy’s Leicester team-mate Drinkwater, with a move for the Three Lions midfielder at an advanced stage.

Vardy snubbed a move to Arsenal last summer to stay at Leicester, on a new contract worth £100,000 a week, after City won the Premier League title.

MEETINGS Conte could swoop for Jamie Vardy