Rumor: Leicester’s Vardy linked with Atlético

With the season freshly concluded, Atlético Madrid will find themselves linked with many players ahead of what’s expected to be a very busy summer. Reports coming out of England on Sunday have suggested that Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy is a target for Diego Simeone this summer. On many levels, this seems like a spurious rumor, but it could be so ridiculous that it ends up being true.

Simeone is said to be an admirer of Vardy’s work, and he would very much fit the mold of a Simeone striker: a hard worker and a deadly finisher when presented with an opportunity. Presuming that there is an Antoine Griezmann-sized hole in Atlético’s attack next season, Vardy may be a shrewd replacement.

While Leicester may be loath to sell their talismanic 31-year-old, especially if Riyad Mahrez also departs, this may be Vardy’s last opportunity to play consistent European football. In their title season, Vardy was one of the best in England, and in the Champions League last season he helped Leicester to an improbable quarterfinal appearance against Atlético. The England international still has quite a bit of pace about him and is certainly not opposed to putting in the hard yards. For that reason, he may be an ideal replacement for Antoine Griezmann and a good partner for Diego Costa.

Traditionally, English players are far less likely to move abroad, especially in the primes of their careers. Vardy will always be an icon for Leicester, but for a guy with a very non-traditional career path, perhaps he would make the bold move to take his game elsewhere. The only trouble with Vardy — aside from some questionable off-field incidents — is his age.

This really seems like a long shot considering Vardy’s iconic status in Leicester, the miles on his odometer and general English lack of interest in moving abroad. But this move does make sense. If it were to happen, it might be the weirdest transfer of the last few years but it could end up being very successful. Not only would he work within the system, but we here at Into the Calderón love nothing more than our (Thomas) Partey Time, and Jamie Vardy would add yet more party and fiesta jokes to our repertoire.