Report: Arsenal triggers release clause in Vardy's Leicester contract

Arsenal has made a sensational move to steal Jamie Vardy away from Leicester City, apparently meeting the minimum fee release clause written into the England striker's deal.

The Guardian's Stuart James reported the news Friday, but stated the Foxes are likely to fight to retain Vardy's services. His 24 goals were pivotal in the club's miraculous march to the 2015-16 Premier League title. James' colleague Ed Aarons reports the release clause to be around £22 million.

Liverpool is apparently also in the frame for Vardy's signature and has offered a lucrative pay packet of £140,000 a week, according to The Mirror's John Cross, but it's understood that the release clause is only available to clubs competing in the Champions League. That would leave Arsenal in pole position to land Vardy, who has three-and-a-half years left on the contract he signed in February.

Although some might speculate that Leicester's hands are tied as Vardy enters talks with the Gunners, they can take confidence from when Arsenal made a similar move for then-Liverpool striker Luis Suarez in 2013. A fee was met that would activate his supposed release clause of £40 million, but the Reds dug in their heels by finding a loophole in the contract and rejecting the offer. Liverpool eventually received a much higher sum of £65 million from Barcelona a year later, ensuring Suarez didn't sign for a rival English outfit.

Alternatively, if Leicester offered fresh terms to Vardy that included a higher asking price, Claudio Ranieri's side could price Arsenal out of a transfer.

A third situation that could keep the former Fleetwood Town forward in the east Midlands would be if he simply pledges his loyalty to Leicester.

The strike force at Arsenal has long been a point of contention for the Arsenal support. Olivier Giroud is the only out-and-out striker on the books, but the Frenchman has struggled for consistency for much of his four-year stay in north London. Elsewhere in Arsene Wenger's options is Theo Walcott, who has struggled to prove his worth up front, and a previously injury-riddled Danny Welbeck. The rest of the attacking ranks at Arsenal are comprised of No. 10s and wide men.

The pricey acquisition of a player arguably at the peak of his powers would mark a departure from Wenger's usual habit of opting for youth and bargains, methods that have drawn the ire of the Emirates Stadium stands. Years into what many have dubbed as a lack of talent in both the defensive midfield and attacking positions, the veteran manager has already added established Swiss international Granit Xhaka to marshal in front of the back four, and now appears to be making strides to capture Vardy.

The Sheffield-born striker is currently with the England squad for its Euro 2016 campaign, which begins against Russia on June 11 in Marseille.