The longer it drags out, the more it feels like Jamie Vardy is going to turn down the chance to move to Arsenal.
Of course, because of the 24-hours news cycle that we live in, this all feels that it has been going on for a lot longer than it really has. The news about Arsenal bidding for him only broke on Friday. Transfers, as you know, can take a long time.
But with many Arsenal fans feeling like Vardy shouldn’t have to think about the offer, it is, after all, The Arsenal, we tried to think about why he might need some time to ponder his options.
Here’s what we came up with:
He feels loyalty to Leicester
Loyalty is a rare commodity in football, but Jamie might just feel it towards the club that made him a household name and brought him a League Winner’s medal.
Pity many of his team mates won’t feel the same and will be out the door faster than you can say ‘PSG’.
He’s scared of London
He feels intimidated
It’s a lot to think about when you’re 29 and have played in the lower leagues for most of your career, not least because you’d be lining up alongside the likes of Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez. Does Jamie, perhaps, have an inferiority complex?
It’s his last/only chance to sign a massive, life-changing contract
Unlike many footballers, Vardy’s late rise to stardom means he probably isn’t financially set for life. This will be his only chance to earn a massive contract before age slows him down. He also probably never envisaged getting this chance. It’s a lot to take in.
No more free Walkers crisps
I come from Northern Ireland, so I don’t really like Walker’s (Lays) because, well, they aren’t Tayto and taste stale. Still, I believe this could be a big deal for an English player used to getting loads of free packets (we assume).
He can’t get his cast off to change it to a red one
Why does he even wear that in the first place?
No more pizza as a bonus
Arsene Wenger is a health freak, Claudio Ranieri takes his players for pizza. Pizza is ace.
He’d get fewer penalties
Arsenal got one penalty last season and while Vardy was racking them up for imaginary fouls, we weren’t even getting them for real ones.
And more red cards
He dives and referees finally caught on to that at the end of the season. If he comes to Arsenal, he’d be booked far more often as Arsenal players tend to be for infractions the opposition are allowed to get away with.
Against Arsenal, Vardy dives and wins a penalty. For Arsenal, he dives and gets booked/second yellow.
In reality, Vardy could do Arsenal a massive favour by saying no.
Initially, it will be hard to take as no-one likes to be rejected, but we just have to remember that less than a week ago no-one wanted him in the first place.
It’s like getting upset that the person you don’t even fancy won’t go out with you, and that’s just silliness. Much like what’s happened since this all broke on Friday, really.