Leicester To Offer Jamie Vardy New Contract Worth More Than £80,000 A Week

Leicester City will look to offer Jamie Vardy a new contract in January in a bid to ward off interest from both Manchester clubs and Chelsea.

Fresh terms could see Vardy, the Premier League's joint-top scorer, more than double his current £40,000-per-week deal to bring him in line with the division's premium strikers. Vardy's exceptional form has brought the matter of improved terms on to the agenda and initial soundings have taken place. Claudio Ranieri has previously hinted he would be minded to present Vardy with an upgrade to reward his incredible progress this season and protect against advances from other clubs during the winter transfer window. Vardy has two and a half years to run on the contract signed in August 2014 and his 15 top-flight goals have made him a genuine target for the Premier League's biggest teams.

Manchester City and United have scouted him, with Chelsea also contemplating a bid. Vardy turns 29 on January 11 but remains one of the quickest players in the top flight and is eligible to play in Europe. The attraction for teams chasing the Champions League places is that Leicester would be significantly weakened in his absence. Leicester are determined to keep hold of their best players this window, insisting that Vardy, valued at more than £25million, and Riyad Mahrez will not be sold. Those pulling the purse strings are said to remain relaxed about the current situation.