Arsenal forward Olivier Giroud confirms Jamie Vardy move, saying: He wants to join
French striker claims partnership with Leicester's title-winning hero can fire Gunners to Premier League glory
OLIVIER GIROUD has all but confirmed Jamie Vardy’s summer move from Leicester to Arsenal.
The French forward, 29 — who netted twice for his country on Saturday against Scotland — said he has heard the Foxes frontman is keen on the switch.
Giroud — who is preparing for this summer’s European Championships on his home soil — also claimed Vardy can help propel the Gunners to their first Premier League title since 2004.
He said: “I’ve been told that Jamie [Vardy] wants to join us which is very good news for us.
“I think we can be complementary. that’s all I can say, he is a fantastic player.”
When asked whether his arrival was bad news for him and whether a formation change was in order, Giroud laughed: “4-4-2? I don’t know.
“But as I said in the past we always have fantastic strikers at Arsenal and I want the best for this club.
“So hopefully he can help us win this [Premier League] title.”
SunSport exclusively reported that boss Arsene Wenger had met with Vardy regarding a £20million move on Friday.
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Wenger triggered the England star’s buy-out clause, which allowed negotiations to start.
The Leicester man was allowed time off after playing in England’s friendly with Portugal on Thursday.
The Gunners are now trying to do a deal before the start of the Euros as Three Lions boss Roy Hodgson does not want transfer distractions looming over players’ heads.
Reports in Italy claim the title-winning Foxes boss Claudio Ranieri was asked if Arsenal had made an offer and replied: “It’s all true.”
The switch wouldn’t just be good news for Arsenal however, as Vardy’s former club Fleetwood could be in line for a sum of upwards of £5m, due to the striker’s sell-on clause.
Leicester will move to sign £25m Sporting Lisbon striker Islam Slimani as a replacement — who team boss Jorge Jesus claims will get ‘twice as many goals for Leicester as Vardy’. Watch this space...
Latest odds from Betway if and when Jamie Vardy joins Arsenal:
Number of goals, over/under – 16.5 Over 5/6 Under 5/6
Golden Boot –16/1
Golden Shoe – 150/1
To win the Premier League again by end of 2018/19 – 7/4
To score 100+ goals – 66/1
To be playing for Arsenal at the start of 2017/18 – 1/3
Arsenal to win the league 2016-17 – 6/1