The ‘new Vardy’ for wily Foxes
LEICESTER have been told they have found the new Jamie Vardy.
The Foxes are set to sign 19-year-old Jake Wakeling from non-league Alvechurch this week.
Alan Smith made the same switch in the 1980s and went on to win the Premier League and European Cup Winners’ Cup with Arsenal and represent England.
More recently, Leicester brought Vardy out of non-league for £1million from Fleetwood eight years ago.
For Alvechurch boss Ian Long, Wakeling has similar qualities. He said: “Jake will make his own goals and chances — the way Vardy does. He has the same sort of pace and can go past players and force defenders to make errors.
“There are definitely similarities. Obviously, he isn’t as polished as Vardy and doesn’t have as much experience, but there’s a lot of potential and he has time on his side.”
Leicester will pay a five-figure fee for
Wakeling, who went to Alvechurch after being released by West Brom.
Playing for the Worcestershire side in the Southern League Premier Central he has netted seven times in nine games.
That got Leicester’s attention and he scored twice for the club’s under-23s against
Brighton to earn a move.