Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri lifts the trophy as the team celebrate winning the Barclays Premier League, after the match at the King Power Stadium, Leicester.
At the end of this season, the striker’s contract is scheduled to expire.
Jamie Vardy doesn’t seem to be disclosing much about his future, not even to people he is close to.
That comes after Claudio Ranieri, the striker’s former manager of Leicester City, said the player had not disclosed to him his plans for the upcoming campaign.
Vardy and the Foxes have had a great season; as Championship championship winners, they have been promoted back to the Premier League on their first try.
Vardy may have one more chance to play for Leicester, but it’s uncertain whether or not that will happen, and Ranieri doesn’t seem to be aware of the circumstances either.
Ranieri responds to question on Vardy future
Vardy’s contract with Leicester is now slated to expire at the end of the current campaign, therefore it’s possible that he will depart the team in the upcoming months without any more obligations.
However, it doesn’t appear that the 37-year-old will retire, and the Foxes have begun negotiations with him on a new deal.
Vardy, though, was also sighted in Italy over the weekend, where he saw Como—who has supporters like Cesc Fabregas and Thierry Henry—secure their promotion back to Serie A for the first time in more than 20 years.
However, it appears that Ranieri, who is presently managing Cagliari in the Italian top division, is apprehensive of what the future holds for his former player.
Leicestershire Live cited Ranieri, who notably led Leicester and Vardy to the Premier League title in 2016, as responding to the question of if he is aware of the 37-year-old’s plans:
“I don’t know that. No, he didn’t call me. I don’t think he even has my Italian number. I don’t know if Fabregas is interested in him. But I’m certainly glad to see all my players who fought for the title with me in England.”
Vardy has made 464 appearances for Leicester thus far in all competitions, tallying 190 goals and dishing out 66 assists.
He has won one FA Cup, Community Shield, two Championship crowns, and one Premier League at The King Power Stadium overall.
Vardy one to watch this summer
It appears that over the coming months, Vardy’s future will undoubtedly be something to watch.
He is clearly nearing the end of his career at 37, but as he has demonstrated for Leicester this season, he is still more than capable of having a significant impact on the field.
| Jamie Vardy 2023/24 Championship stats for Leicester – from SofaScore | |
|---|---|
| Appearances | 35 |
| Goals | 17 |
| Shots on Target per Game | 0.9 |
| Assists | 2 |
| Pass Success Rate | 75% |
| Dribble Success Rate | 50% |
| Duel Success Rate | 48% |
That certainly makes him an appealing target for other clubs, especially when he is available on a free transfer, and the fact that his profile could generate extra interest for other clubs who are able to sign him.
However, he also has a big decision to make when it comes to the prospect of extending his time at Leicester.
On the one hand, Vardy may see this as the chance to end his time with the club on a big high, with the Championship title.
Contrary to that though, another chance to show what he can do in the Premier League with the club, may also be very tempting.
As a result, there is still a lot for him to consider, and deciding either way is unlikely to be easy, given how long and strong his connection with Leicester has been.
Given this, it may not come as a huge surprise if Ranieri’s ignorance of Vardy’s plans for the upcoming season stems, at least in part, from Vardy’s lack of self-awareness.
