EPL club want to sign two Leicester strikers as price tag revealed
By Will Kennedy
Historically, we’ve seen Iheanacho operating much better as supporting striker – playing the CF role behind, or alongside, an out-and-out No.9. With Everton potentially moving 3 strikers on this season, it may explain their interest in also acquiring Jamie Vardy.
A Foxes legend, Vardy has been with the club for 11 years since his £1m move from Fleetwood Town in 2012. Since his arrival in the East Midlands, the striker has won the Championship, the Premier League, an FA Cup, the Community Shield, and has played in a European semi-final.
In 427 LCFC games, he’s scored 170 goals and added another 68 assists, including scoring 136 in the Premier League, making him the 15th highest scorer in the competition’s history. His outstanding form, including earning himself the PL golden boot in the 2019-20 season, saw him make 26 appearances for England, scoring seven goals.
Whilst Jamie Vardy has been imperious ever since his move, he is now 36 and saw a rapid decline last season. Like Iheanacho, he is in the final year of his contract at Leicester and he may well want to extend his Premier League scoring record before he retires.
That, partnered by his monumental wage in Leicester – rumoured to be between £140K-£160K-a-week – may be why the Foxes could be open to selling their veteran striker. First reported by website FootballTransfers, apparently Vardy ‘has been told he can leave Leicester’ and has been aware of the Toffees’ interest in him for a while. The Foxes would be looking for a small fee for the striker, but it would be significantly less than the fee reported for Iheanacho.
As ever, do take these rumours with a pinch of salt. We know that Enzo Maresca wants Vardy to spearhead his attack as he aims to clinch promotion to the Premier League at the first time of trying. Part of FootballTransfers‘ article also claims Vardy knew of Everton’s interest in him before the end of the season and thus he chose not to take the penalty against them in the 2-2 draw in May, with James Maddison taking – and missing – the spot-kick instead.
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Needless to say, this report is farcically untrue and very unlike Jamie Vardy who will have been devastated that his club are back in the Championship after so many successful years. That being said, it is feasible that either Iheanacho or Vardy end up at Everton. Both are far too good for the Championship and could be very smart signings for a low cost. It’s certainly a developing story worth keeping an eye on.