Leicester City will already have one eye on the Championship next season after Wednesday evening's 2-0 loss at Manchester City consigned Ruud van Nistelrooy's side to their eighth straight defeat.
The Foxes gained promotion back to the Premier League at the very first attempt as champions under Enzo Maresca but are poised to join Southampton and Ipswich Town in making a swift second-tier return, with relegation set to be mathematically confirmed in the coming weeks.
Leicester are currently 19th in the top-flight standings with just four victories and 17 points on the board from 30 matches. They are now three points shy of 18th-placed Ipswich, who claimed their first league win of 2025 over Bournemouth last night, and are all-but-relegated with a twelve-point gap to bridge between themselves and Wolverhampton Wanderers in 17th position.
There has been very little to be positive about at the King Power Stadium this season but Jamie Vardy has continued to provide infront of goal. The evergreen striker, now aged 38, has registered seven strikes and has been directly involved in 10 of his side's 25 league goals, after his 18-goal haul helped Leicester to the Championship title last time out.
Jamie Vardy's Leicester City career stats across all competitions via FotMob, as of April 3
Appearances
493
Vardy is set to see his current contract expire this summer, and his situation has appeared uncertain for quite some time. However, a potentially huge update on Vardy's future has now emerged...
Big update emerges on Jamie Vardy's Leicester City future
As per a recent update via X from Sky Sports reporter Rob Dorsett, Vardy has no intention of retiring in spite of his age.
Jamie Vardy - Preston vs Leicester
It's expected that Vardy's future will be resolved between now and the end of the campaign, while the possibility of signing a fresh deal in the East Midlands remains.
However, the Foxes legend is said to be "ambitious" and still wants to play at the top level.
That could spell bad news for Leicester, who, barring an unprecedented miracle in the remaining eight games of the current Premier League campaign, will be hosting Championship football come August.
Ruud van Nistelrooy (left) & Daniel Farke (right) Related
How does Leicester City's estimated wage bill compare to the top Championship clubs?
Comparing Leicester City's wage bill to the top teams currently in the Championship
It is not yet clear just how many suitors Vardy has, and he may have to consider moving overseas to continue playing top-flight football.
Leicester City must be shrewd with potential Jamie Vardy contract renewal
According to Capology, a site which provides estimated figures on player salaries, Vardy is collecting an astonishing weekly wage of £140,000.
It's no great surprise a player of Vardy's calibre and class is collecting such a hefty pay packet, of course, but his age means Leicester must be extremely cautious when putting a new offer on the table.
Jamie Vardy for Leicester City
Quite simply, it would be unsustainable to be paying anywhere close to that salary to a player in the Championship who will be celebrating his 39th birthday next January.
The footballing appeal for retaining Vardy, a bonafide legend at Leicester whose ability to find the back of the net has not waned in spite of age and his side's struggles on the pitch, is clear, and he was still prolific in a bit-part role under Maresca last term, but the Foxes should perhaps look against entertaining a new contract if they are unable to negotiate the former England international taking a significant pay reduction.