Jamie Vardy will fly to France on Monday almost certainly as an Arsenal player after a £20million switch from
Leicester.
Just weeks after firing Leicester to their shock Premier League title triumph, England striker Vardy is thought to be having a medical on Sunday before the deal is rubber-stamped.
Leicester boss Claudio Ranieri, desperate to keep together the team that stunned football, admitted to an Italian newspaper on Saturday: ‘Yes, it’s all true’.
Manchester United, who had been interested in signing Vardy, will be disappointed to have missed out on a player who scored 24 goals while leading Leicester to glory last month. But new United boss Jose Mourinho has made a £30m move for Villarreal’s highly-rated centre-back Eric Bailly.
Vardy, who signed a new contract just four months ago with the release clause inserted, is happy at Leicester but realises that at 29 this may be his last opportunity to join one of the country’s elite clubs.
Arsene Wenger surprisingly sanctioned a swoop for Vardy after several top-flight clubs were sounded out by the player’s representatives. The Football Writers’ Player of the Year has been offered a considerable increase on his current £80,000 per week contract.
Because England boss Roy Hodgson does not want players discussing moves or having medicals during Euro 2016, the Arsenal manager, who watched Vardy in action for England against Portugal at Wembley on Thursday night, felt he had to act swiftly.
Arsenal were contacted last month and it is understood Vardy wants a four-year deal in excess of £100,000 a week.
United, meanwhile, have lined up a bid for Bailly, the 22-year-old Ivory Coast defender who has also been watched by Arsenal, Manchester City, Bayern Munich, Barcelona, and Leicester.
Talks are going on over a deal that is expected to be around £18m up front with £12m in bonus payments. The clubs hope to reach an agreement quickly for the tough, skilful defender, who joined from Espanyol in 2014 for £4million.
Bailly was brought in by Villarreal to replace Gabriel Paulista when he moved to Arsenal. He had a poor start but has grown into the position and become one of the most coveted defenders in Spain.
Mourinho is keen to strengthen through United’s spine and wants to make four or five additions to the squad he has inherited from Louis van Gaal.
The Portuguese coach will be in the stands for Socceraid at Old Trafford. He is due to return to United’s Carrington training complex on Monday as he looks to start shaping his squad and staff, with Bailly expected to be joined soon by Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
The 34-year-old striker is a free agent after leaving Paris Saint-Germain and is expected to finalise terms once his agent Mino Raiola returns from business in Monte Carlo this week.
United assistant manager Ryan Giggs returns from holiday in Dubai on Sunday and is expected to discuss his future with the club this week.
United have made him a broad offer of a role, which he could help design himself, involving the development of their younger professionals.
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