Paying 20m and getting 2-3 good years out of Vardy is better than paying the 35-40m touted for a player who's yet to go past 8 league goals.

I don't think Ozil signs a new deal with Vardy as the only CF signing because Vardy is likely to be a 1 deal option re his age, and could even be finished as a starter before Ozil's extension begins in 2 seasons.

AW usually likes to have 2 players for a position at opposite ages = older/younger.
Vardy is in the same age group as Giroud & the likes of Zlatan, Cavani, Benzema, Higuain, Lewandowski,
so I'd expect to see a younger player like Janssen, Embolo, Morata.
Alternatively I think AW may well be looking for a bargain opportunity to present, even if it was for someone like Sturridge, as we'd have the depth to manage his fitness.

Sorely doubt Özil's new contract is contingent only on who's signed at centre forward, though no doubt it's a factor.

Agree with you it would be unlike Wenger to go for long with two central striker options 30 or older. I'm inclined to believe the rumour we have made this inquiry as it appears in the Guardian and it's a Wenger price that's being mooted.

Gunner89 wrote:

Paying 20m and getting 2-3 good years out of Vardy is better than paying the 35-40m touted for a player who's yet to go past 8 league goals.

Don't disagree, just that Vardy alone is very much about the short term here & now & is more akin to RVP at ManU as a push for the title rather than to secure Ozil's signature on a new deal.

The only other reason I could think of for Vardy to be the only signing at CF, is if AW has decided to depart after next season & he is looking to push for one last title and intends to improve the squad as much as he can regarding not only 2-3 starters but also the bench/developing options.

I don't think Vardy's signature has any bearing on Ozil's contract.

Gunner89 wrote:

I don't think Vardy's signature has any bearing on Ozil's contract.

More a case perhaps that retaining Giroud and/or Walcott or not directly resolving & improving known issues does.

I'd say it's probably a factor. I get the sense Özil wants to win the Premier League like any player would, not to mention getting the satisfaction of turning great passes into actual goals.

Vardy is possibly the best off the ball striker in a while in the league and he will fit ozil perfectly. I am excited about this even when Zlatan has reportedly signed a deal with United on the same day

Just fielding a player like him would put the mockers on some opposition. You could see him combining pretty effectively with Walcott and Bellerin as well, since he's capable of finishing any cross that's there or thereabouts.

Imagine the energy of Vardy Alexis Elneny on the pitch for us. Straightaway it's a headstart against others

Iwobi Vardy Sanchez
--------Ozil--------
-----Xhaka---Elneny---
Rodriguez-Kos-Merte-Bellerin
--------Cech--------

i can live with alexis playing left wing if vardy is our striker. alexis cutting in becomes a much more dangerous prospect when you have a striker that makes sharp runs in behind

Anzac wrote:

It's an improvement on current options, but will still blow up in AW's face if he does nothing more and we see the likes of Lewandowski, Zlatan, Morata, Higuain, Benzema, PEA, Lukaku, Benteke, Batshuayi, Lacazette, Costa & Sturridge all moving.

Lewandowski and Costa are unrealistic (Lewandowski is at a bigger club and Costa would only leave for Spain and why would Chelsea sell to us anyway and not to mention doubts surrounding his temperament)

Morata's a 30-40m man reportedly and for a player who's bagged a max haul of 8 league goals that is a crazy price

Sturridge is a quality player but he's a wreck

Zlatan is 35 this year and while he's done outstandingly it's not a matter of if but when his decline starts and playing for the best team by a mile in a weak league and at best a top 4 side in England is completely different. He can be a success no doubt and obviously has world class ability but I'd be really surprised if at his age he hit's similar numbers to the ones in France.

The two other ligue 1 strikers are a gamble too.

Not gonna lie I'd take Higuain, Aubameyang, Lukaku and Benzema over Vardy and they'd be all realistic (Benz aside who'd be available only if Madrid signed a big name over him) but the first 3 would be I am sure really really on a different level in terms of prices.

Higuain as reported by Dimarzio can leave for his 72m GBP release clause
Lukaku is by merseyside correspondents leaving if Everton get around 60m
Aubameyang would probably be the most difficult among those to prise. How many key players would Dortmund let go of and they're flush with lots of cash from sales already.

Higuain 72M, Lukaku 60M? Fuck that - get Vardy for 20 and spend 50M (or whatever is rumoured) on James or someone else for the right/left wing, and we'll be miles better. Lukaku is a lump any way.

I think Vardy is hugely underrated here especially. He was the best striker in the league last season and there are no guarantees a foreign striker can hit the ground running. We have seen so many expensive flops. Vardy and a top class attacking mid like James would be amazing.

He is a late bloomer so I wouldn't worry about his age. He has at least 3 or more seasons in him left.

I'm worried that Wilshere will be a bad influence on him..

Khanuppet wrote:

I'm worried that Wilshere will be a bad influence on him..

Yeah he has a history of influencing members of our squad.

NOT.

The comparison to Ian Wright seems so apt. Chance = goal.

MD you forgot the most important stat: Goals scored.

So if Vardy happens, are we still in for Morata?