Vardy so classy for Claude

LEICESTER boss Claude Puel claims Jamie Vardy belongs among the Premier League’s elite strikers.

Puel says he wouldn’t swap the Foxes’ main man for £90m Romelu Lukaku, who arrives in town with Manchester United tonight.

Vardy has scored 41 per cent of his 49 Premier goals against United, Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham and Liverpool.

That compares to eight per cent for Lukaku, 26 per cent for City’s Sergio Aguero and 18 per cent for Spurs star Harry Kane. Asked if Vardy

(right) should be considered an elite striker, Puel said: “I think so.

“He is comfortable with the ball and provides good solutions. He is clinical. He has great quality and we are lucky to have Jamie with us.”

Lukaku has scored in both of United’s last two league games, while Vardy has gone four league matches without a goal as he hunts for his 50th top-flight strike.

But since breaking into the Premier League in 2014/15, Vardy has scored 20 times in 39 games against the ‘Big Six’, while Lukaku has bagged five in 40 in the same time.

“I prefer Jamie but they are two fantastic strikers with different profiles,” said Puel. “Perhaps I would like to have them both in my team.”

Puel also warned Islam Slimani that his club record price tag will not guarantee him a Leicester recall.

The £29m striker has been axed from the squad for the last five games.

“I don’t put my team in place based on the price of the player,” said Puel.