- Veteran frontman seeing contract run down
- Could become free agent this summer
- Linked with switch to SToK Racecourse
WHAT HAPPENED?
The former England international striker is now 37 years of age, but still hit 18 goals for Leicester in the 2023-24 campaign as they landed the Championship title and an immediate return to the Premier League. Vardy is set to become a free agent in the summer, if no contract extension is agreed, and there has been talk of him being another big-name target for ambitious League One new boys Wrexham.
WHAT BRAND EXPERT SAID
Emily Austen, a brand expert and author of Smarter: 10 lessons for a more productive and less-stressed life, has told the Daily Mail of why Vardy to North Wales could happen: “It would be a smart move for Vardy to sign to Wrexham. Ryan and Rob captured hearts all over the world with their genuine enthusiasm for the club, and their commitment to helping them ascend in the league. The support that Wrexham has had is based in part on the stories of those involved, and the history of the area plus the people who live there. If Jamie was part of the team that reached the Premiership dream, he would be part of something historical.”
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Austen has also claimed that Vardy’s wife, Rebekah, could have a role to play in a big career call – with the success of ‘Welcome to Wrexham’ holding obvious appeal to a couple accustomed to living in the public eye. Austen added: “Rebekah particularly has had a significant amount of negativity on social media; featuring on the show as a consequence of the signing would likely enable a more empathic response from fans, and connect them with a more sympathetic narrative. It’s not out of the question that there might be spin-off shows with the WAGs, and regular air time on prime time television is hard to come by. It would secure visibility for the couple that they are unlikely to achieve themselves. They would also have the possibility of rubbing shoulders with A-listers, and testing the water in the US. Disney+ has huge budgets to test shows (you often see only a one series commitment), so it’s a possibility that the couple could use the exposure to generate a conversation with the streamer.”
WHAT NEXT?
Vardy has made no announcement on his future, as Leicester enjoy promotion-winning celebrations, but Wrexham director Humphrey Ker has left the door open for a move to SToK Racecourse to be made – joining the likes of Paul Mullin and Ollie Palmer – if a deal stands to benefit all concerned.
