It’s been widely reported that Chelsea is willing to pull out their intimidating chequebook in a bid to bring in a new striker to Stamford Bridge. From the list of four strikers on the Blues radar, the most eye-catching is Leicester City’s Jamie Vardy.
According to a report by the UK Telegraph, Chelsea could be lining up a bid for Jamie Vardy. The 30-year-old English striker is being touted as a possible strike partner for Premier League new boy, Alvaro Morata. Although Michy Batshuayi remains in the picture, it’s no secret that Antonio Conte has lost any budding faith in the Belgian and is desperate to sign a Premier League proficient forward to help Morata get off the blocks in England.
Vardy would be a perfect Chelsea striker
At 30, Jamie Vardy can be referred to as a striker who knows the Premier League in and out. He hit his peak in the 2015-16 season when he scored in eleven consecutive matches, between August and November 2015. Despite his age breaching the three-decade mark, the striker is still an unwelcome customer even against the Premier League best defenders.
Irrespective of winning the Premier League last season, the Chelsea squad only seem to have gotten thinner and thinner. In attack, Diego Costa has been ostracized while £58 million has been spent in signing his replacement. Marquee signing, Alvaro Morata is still learning the ropes in the Premier League while Michy Batshuayi could’ve ruined his chances of being a regular starter in Conte’s team by putting one through his own net last weekend.
That leaves the door open for a player of Vardy’s quality. Fast, strong, technically efficient and experienced, Jamie Vardy is the perfect striker for the 3-5-2 system Antonio Conte is itching to play. Still wearing a Blue shirt, this time Chelsea’s, Jamie Vardy, playing alongside the other attacking maestros in Antonio Conte’s team, could really work some magic. He’ll fit in at Chelsea like a square peg in a square hole.
Vardy to Chelsea would be disastrous for Leicester
Jamie Vardy has been a big part of Leicester City’s success, still is. Even with the quality of strikers at Craig Shakespeare’s beck and call, taking out Vardy from his team will leave the 53-year-old stranded. Over the last couple of years, Leicester have come to rely heavily on Vardy’s direct style of play and it’ll be quite difficult to replace such a player; remember, N’Golo Kante was never really replaced after leaving to join the London club in question. Losing Vardy will be a blow too heavy for the Foxes.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m in no way implying that Leicester City is a one-man team. But in Jamie Vardy, you have a player who almost everyone looks up to, including the fans. Losing him to Premier League big spenders would send a wrong message to the dressing room.
It won’t happen
The fact that leaving Leicester could spell doom for the club is the major reason why they’ll play hardball with any of Vardy’s potential suitors. Chelsea would find it easier convincing Crystal Palace to let go of Christian Benteke or Swansea to sell Fernando Llorente than Leicester letting go of their 2015-16 hero.
It’s also very unlikely that Vardy would want to leave Leicester now. He passed up the opportunity to join Arsenal in 2016 when he would’ve easily become Arsene Wenger’s spearhead in attack; choosing to rather sink or swim with Leicester. Chelsea will dangle the carrot of Champions League football, but with two recognized strikers already, joining Chelsea will be too difficult a decision – one that’s easier not to make..
