Leicester City legend Emile Heskey has expressed his frustration that the Foxes have not pursued a move for former striker Jamie Vardy.
The ex-England international expressed his desire for the 39-year-old to return to the King Power Stadium, with Vardy now a free agent following his year in Italy with Cremonese. Since departing the Italian outfit, where he goes next has become a hot topic in the footballing world, with numerous clubs vying for his services. When discussing the 39-year-old’s future, Heskey stated he would “take him back in a heartbeat”, but does not understand why the club made no move for their former hero.
The 48-year-old played for Leicester in the early days of his career, starting with their youth academy, before moving on to Liverpool. He was a familiar face of the Premier League’s Barclays era, featuring for the likes of Aston Villa and Wigan Athletic, as well as his aforementioned clubs.
To the dismay of many Foxes fans, it seems Jamie Vardy will not be bringing his party back to the King Power Stadium to close out his career after stating on his Having a Party podcast that a return to the club would not happen.
Fresh Changes Incoming at Leicester City.
There is an element of change in the air at the King Power Stadium at present, with the club’s Thai owners having placed the club up for sale, seeking over £200 million for their assets. While they began to sound out potential buyers, the club reportedly remains debt-free, despite consecutive relegations from the Premier League and the Championship. Last season’s relegation saw the Foxes become just the second club that have won the Premier League in this era to fall to England’s third division. The other club to hold that unfortunate accolade is Blackburn Rovers.
With the side currently up for sale, there can be no question about whether the current owners will continue to back the club. Current head coach Russell Martin has been backed in this window with nine signings, but large fees have not been part of those signings, with many being free transfers or loan signings. Nevertheless, those incomings include loans from Premier League clubs such as Manchester City.
Jamie Vardy’s Emotional Leicester City Career.
There are few, if any, who could say they have enjoyed a rise to the top the way that Jamie Vardy did when Leicester City signed him in 2012. Having been released by his boyhood club Sheffield Wednesday at the age of 16, Vardy spent much of his career in non-league football before becoming the first £1 million non-league player when signing from Fleetwood Town. That was just the beginning of one of football’s fairytale stories. After leading the side to the Premier League, the top flight would become his playground as he broke Ruud van Nistelrooy’s record of scoring in 11 consecutive games, and he was part of the Leicester side that defied all the odds to claim a Premier League title.
While it remains to be seen where the ex-England international chooses to take his career next, his former boyhood club Sheffield Wednesday may also miss out on his services. The Owls are joined by West Ham United in clubs that have taken an interest in taking on the 39-year-old as a free agent signing, but both could miss the chance to sign Vardy, as Brazilian giants Sao Paulo have reportedly stepped into the equation. Speaking to TalkSPORT, Alex Crook explained his belief that while a return to English football would potentially be a more attractive option than a move to Brazil, the financial constraints on League One would make a deal hard to strike with Vardy.
After what could only be called a fairytale career, a return to his boyhood club Sheffield Wednesday and potentially guiding them in a return to the Championship after a torrid time would be a fitting end to a glittering career.