Transfer talk: Jamie Vardy for Arsenal? Leicester City optmistic he will stay

Leicester City remain hopeful of keeping striker Jamie Vardy away from potential suitors, according to vice-chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha.

Vardy scored 24 Premier League goals last season for the surprise champions, one behind golden boot winner Harry Kane to earn a place with England at Euro 2016, where he grabbed a vital equaliser as a substitute in Thursday’s 2-1 win over Wales.

That has seen him linked with Arsenal, who have reportedly made a £20 million (Dh105.5m) bid for the 29-year-old forward, though his future plans remain on hold while he focuses on the tournament.

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"You will see the news very soon, but I think he will stay," Srivaddhanaprabha, however, told the Daily Mail. "I think so, let's see. We need to build the team. We keep continuing to believe that we can do something special in the Premier League and the [Uefa] Champions League.

“The Champions League is going to be amazing for Leicester, so let’s see. Leicester is the underdog and we can still be the underdog.”

Srivaddhanaprabha concedes he is still “pinching himself” over the team’s achievements under manager Claudio Ranieri, with whom he enjoys a close relationship.

“We talk a lot. We are like family,” he said of the charismatic Italian. “I cannot compare myself to another owner but the best thing is we love sport. The first day we talked to the team and we showed that we are doing something we love and that we can succeed.

“I think everyone in Leicester is still pinching themselves. Even the players and staff. Now the season is finished and we have to move on.”

The Foxes begin their title defence away to Championship play-off winners Hull on August 13.

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