Arsenal completed deal to sign Jamie Vardy in 2016 before Leicester striker made a last-minute U-turn, reveals Ex-Emirates transfer chief Dick Law
- Arsenal wanted to sign Jamie Vardy after he fired Leicester to the title in 2015-16
- Former Arsenal transfer chief Dick Law tried to broker the deal to sign Vardy
- He revealed the deal was completed before Vardy changed his mind overnight
Former Arsenal transfer chief Dick Law has revealed just how close Leicester striker Jamie Vardy came to moving to the Emirates Stadium in 2016.
Arsenal had identified Vardy as a prime target after he fired Leicester to the Premier League title in the 2015-16 season.
Vardy bagged 24 goals and set the record for scoring in consecutive Premier League games, netting in 11 successive matches.
Arsenal came incredibly close to signing Jamie Vardy from Leicester after the 2015-16 season
Vardy’s 24 goals that campaign fired Leicester to an unlikely Premier League triumph
(All Competitions)
Games: 300
Goals: 126
Assists: 51
Arsene Wenger was in need of bolstering his attack and wanted to bring Vardy to the club.
Law, who spent 13 years at Arsenal between 2005 and 2018, was in charge of brokering the deal and has now revealed how the striker was ready to sign before making a last-minute U-turn.
Speaking to The Athletic, Law said: ‘The deal with Leicester was done, the deal with the player was done.
‘He came down to visit with his wife Rebekah, he sat on the couch in front of Arsene… and then he backed off.
‘On his way back to Leicester I get a call from the player saying he wants to think about it overnight.’
‘At that point, you know it’s bad news.’
Arsene Wenger wanted to bring him to Arsenal but Dick Law said Vardy changed his mind
Vardy has enjoyed another prolific season, and has scored 19 times for Leicester this term
Vardy instead opted to remain at Leicester where he has etched his name into the club’s folklore.
The former England international has been a star player for Leicester over the years and was on the verge of helping the club return to the Champions League before football was suspended due to the coronavirus crisis.
Arsenal, meanwhile, were teetering in ninth before the enforced break and look set to miss out on European football altogether.
Vardy has enjoyed another prolific season, scoring 19 times for Leicester.
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