Merson: Arsenal won’t suit Vardy

Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy is reportedly leaning towards rejecting a move to Arsenal in favour of staying with the newly-crowned Premier League champions.

England open their Group B game against Russian Federation in Marseille on Saturday, when Vardy could be deployed in attack alongside Tottenham forward Harry Kane.

Vardy scored 24 Premier League goals to help Leicester to a shock Premier League title success in 2015-16, but Merson – who played for Arsenal between 1985 and 1997 – does not think he suits the club’s style.

“Hodgson has also been assured that Vardy’s focus is fully on England and not his club future, with Leicester City and Arsenal battling over his services”.

Manchester United are close to sealing a £30m deal for Villarreal defender Eric Bailly after flying the Ivory Coast global into the city for a medical.

West Ham United co-chairman David Sullivan says Arsenal’s deal to sign Jamie Vardy shows the current state of the “potty” transfer market.

The former non-leaguer understandably feels a great affinity towards the Midlands club and is anxious about whether he’d start regularly at Arsenal next season with Olivier Giroud and Theo Walcott still on the books.

“Nothing has happened yet and it will probably be a long transfer window”.

“If Vardy goes then one or two others might want to leave as well”, Taggart, who made over 100 appearances for Leicester, told the BBC.

“But I don’t think it will affect the squad. But what he decides to do is up to him”.

While most of the team opted to wear their navy England hoodies, Vardy chose the grey hoodie and sweat shorts, which he wore with Nike Air Max trainers.

“We are not trying to block players’ futures or transfers but, as far as we are concerned, our ongoing theme is that England is England, your club is your club”, he said.

“It is not a question of you sorting out your future, or diving off for medicals”.

On the striker’s potential move to the Emirates Koscielny added: “You know, I don’t like to talk when it’s not signed”.