Wrexham given more Vardy hope as transfer hint drops ahead of Leicester exit

Wrexham have been linked with a move for Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy, who will leave the King Power Stadium when his contract expires at the end of the season

Wrexham's hopes of signing Jamie Vardy have been given a boost. The Welsh team, owned by Hollywood A-listers Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, have been heavily linked with a move for the Leicester City striker following their promotion to the Championship.

The 38-year-old confirmed in April that he will part ways with the Foxes at the end of the season after their Premier League relegation, but he plans to continue his football career. Vardy has had a 13-year stint at Leicester since his transfer from Fleetwood Town in 2012, netting 199 goals in 499 matches, contributing to their Premier League victory in 2015/16 and the FA Cup win in 2021.

Since announcing his departure, he has been linked with several clubs, including Wrexham and his childhood team Sheffield Wednesday. The likelihood of either club securing his services previously seemed slim after reports surfaced suggesting he had no desire to play in the second tier.

However, the possibility of Vardy making a move to North Wales has resurfaced after Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson revealed his strategy for the summer transfer window opening in June. Speaking to The Leader, the former Sunderland and Bolton boss said the club would continue to monitor potential free transfers, with Vardy's contract at Leicester due to expire next month.

Parkinson said: "We have always got our eye on players who are free transfers and going to be available, and we'll continue to do that. Recruitment is about getting a lot of tight decisions right and I felt we did that in January. To hold our nerve and get the right players in made a difference and I was very pleased with that."

Former Leicester striker Paul Dickov has suggested that Vardy would be a good fit for Wrexham after praising his work ethic. He told 10bet: "You still see him even now as a 38-year-old veteran. He's still playing off the shoulders of centre-halves in the Premier League. He's still buzzing around, closing people down, scoring goals.

"I still think he's got a lot to offer, whether that be in the Premier League or top-level Championship, or Wrexham who are promoted to the Championship now and have been linked. You look at him, he looks fit as a fiddle. He probably could go on and play for another two seasons at the top level as well.

"I'm sure whatever he does, it's a big blow for him to leave Leicester. He's up there, not just as a Leicester legend, but a Premier League legend from what he's done, where he came from, the goals he scored. I'm pretty sure there'll be a lot of top clubs in for Jamie Vardy because he's still got a hell of a lot to offer on the pitch and off the pitch."

Wrexham boss Parkinson has emphasised the club's commitment to a "no superstars, no egos" approach in the transfer market. It comes despite being linked with high-profile signings following promotion to the Championship after a decisive 3-0 victory over Charlton.

Parkinson said: "I think that a lot of tough decisions will be made this summer, in terms of who we bring in and how we add to this fantastic squad of lads we've got, but let's see if we can build a squad to compete at that level.

"I think it's interesting because the jump in salaries is incredible, mind-blowing. Even coming up to this level [League One], the jump to get players of Championship quality is expensive but obviously with the next level, I don't think people outside football quite realise."

Parkinson added: "They think players in League One must be multi-millionaires, but the drop-off from what people read about Premier League players when they come down, is huge. That is a challenge, but what we've always tried to do is make sure the culture in the club is right and I think that's key - no superstars, no egos in the dressing room and we've got to try and get that balance right again."