Rejecting Arsenal A Mature Move For Vardy - Claridge

 

Former Leicester City striker Steve Claridge believes Jamie Vardy made a mature decision in rejecting interest from Arsenal to agree a new contract with the Premier League champions. Arsenal had reportedly triggered an estimated £20 million release clause in Vardy's contract after the England striker's 24 league goals fired the Foxes to the most stunning of title triumphs in 2015-16.

Vardy also scored in 11 consecutive league games last season, breaking Ruud van Nistelrooy's record that had stood for more than a decade. Arsenal finished second to Claudio Ranieri's side in the table, but the allure of the Emirates Stadium was not enough to attract Vardy, who has instead agreed fresh terms that will keep him at the King Power Stadium for four more years, and Claridge believes Vardy's progress through non-league influenced his decision.

He said “I wasn't surprised, I think it's a mature decision from someone who's seen the other side. He's been played out of position at times at Leicester and he could have been played out of position at Arsenal, Arsene Wenger does that with strikers. He will have thought, 'Will I get to play in the right position at a side as good as Arsenal? There's a possibility I'd be a squad player'.  At Leicester he is the main man. If he was 22 he would have probably gone, but at 29 he's decided to stay.”