TALKS OVER NEW DEAL FOR VARDY
STRIKER ‘EXPECTED TO AGREE TO ONE-YEAR EXTENSION’
JAMIE Vardy is reportedly in talks to extend his contract at Leicester City for another year, writes Jogh Holland.
The striker is in the final 12 months of his current deal at the King Power Stadium, which was signed in 2020.
Vardy has scored 164 goals in 386 games since joining from Fleetwood Town in 2012. He started City’s Premier League opener against Brentford on Sunday to begin his 11th season in LE2 and remains an influential member of Brendan Rodgers’ squad.
Reports have emerged that the 35-year-old is in talks to sign an extension.
According to The Athletic, Vardy is expected to agree to a one-year extension to the end of the 2023-24 campaign. He is one of nine players currently in the final year of their contracts, with new captain Jonny Evans, Caglar Soyuncu and Daniel Amartey also in that bracket.
City boss Rodgers has heaped praise on the former England international with his quality consistently on display. He said last week: “If I look at the fitness tests and everything he’s done, he still looks very fit and very strong. If you look at his goals in pre-season, he’s working hard, but his eyes light up when the competition starts.
“If he can stay fit and available then I’m pretty sure he won’t be too far off the (15 to 20 goals) mark.
“It’s still his strength, like with his goal at Preston, it is the timing of his run on the last line. He’s still got that speed and sharpness to get away. It’s filling the space in and around him to make sure there are bodies close enough to connect the game for him.
“But 25 yards in, he’s a master of finishing. If we arrive into those areas, I’m sure he will continue to score. He’s still got that sharpness and speed and he will always time those runs, so then it’s up to us to serve him as well.
“There are talks going on behind the scenes. We’d love him to stay.
“He’s still going to influence games, so that will be between his representatives and the club to find a solution to that.”