Is Vardy staying at Leicester? Chelsea complication, Everton plan £40m deadline day bid

Jamie Vardy could be set for a very late deadline day move away from Leicester.

Leicester are desperate to keep Vardy, who was instrumental in their 2015/16 title-winning campaign.

The 30-year-old rejected a move to Arsenal last summer in order to remain at Leicester.

The £20m release clause Arsenal triggered last summer is gone now and he is valued at £40m.

Chelsea and Everton want to sign the forward but both clubs could struggle to get a deal over the line.

Is Vardy staying at Leicester?

Most likely yes. Vardy is Leicester’s talisman and they will not want to lose him.

Furthermore, Danny Drinkwater has handed in a transfer request and Riyad Mahrez is in Paris seeking permission to speak to either Barcelona or Chelsea.

Leicester cannot afford to lose all three players - it would be almost impossible to replace the trio before the 11pm deadline.

And Vardy will likely be kept above the others.

Vardy to Chelsea

The big problem with this deal was Chelsea’s interest in Fernando Llorente. Chelsea don’t need a regular starter up front - they already have that in Alvaro Morata.

But the Blues want English players to fulfil their homegrown quota and Vardy is a great option.

Furthermore, Llorente now looks set to join Tottenham, so Vardy is a good secondary target.

But if they cannot sell Diego Costa to Atletico Madrid before the deadline then the Blues may struggle to afford Vardy.

It may be a toss up for the Bleus between Vardy and Drinkwater - and Antonio Conte is likely to opt for the midfielder.