Report: Leicester City almost sold Jamie Vardy to Sheffield Wednesday before 2015/16 season
Reports have revealed that the Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy was almost sold to Sheffield Wednesday in the summer for a fee of £5 million. A deal had reportedly been sanctioned which would have seen Vardy move back to Wednesday.
Vardy was born in Sheffield, United Kingdom, and had started out his career in the youth team of the club in 2002 before moving to Stockbridge Park Steels in 2003. A Wednesday source had said that Vardy was also keen on returning to the area where he was born.
Leicester City was being managed by Nigel Pearson last season and he was not convinced of Vardy and, therefore, wanted to sell him to Wednesday for £5 million. Steve Walsh, who is the assistant manager of Leicester City, however, had faith in the threatening potential that Vardy possessed and he wanted the striker to stay. But Pearson still sanctioned his departure.
Ex-owner Milan Mandaric then sold off Sheffield Wednesday to its current Thai owner Dejphon Chansiri. Wednesday’s ex-manager Stuart Gray tried to convince Chansiri of the talent of Vardy but his appeal fell on deaf ears and Chansiri had his doubts about the prowess of Vardy as a striker. It was at the last minute that he decided against the signing of Vardy and the deal fell through.
Claudio Ranieri took over Leicester this year and under his leadership Vardy, with significant help from Riyad Mahrez, has given rise to exciting times at the King Power stadium.
Steve Walsh, who is part of the backroom staff of Ranieri’s team at Leicester, has not been proven wrong after all. The vision of Stuart Gray has also been justified. Vardy has burst on the scene this season at the Premier League having scored 11 goals in consecutive games, breaking Ruud van Nistelrooy’s record and setting one himself. His outstanding form this season has made the media speculative of his potential transfer to the power houses of Europe.
Vardy is already the highest goal scorer of the Premier League this season having scored 15 goals in all from 16 appearances. He has also been named the Premier League Player of the Month for November.
To know more about the phenomenal rise of Jamie Vardy, you can read this piece on the 5 things you probably didn't know about Jamie Vardy.