Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy scored his 200th and final goal for the club on Sunday amid reports linking him with a move to Leeds United this summer.
Vardy announced recently that he would be leaving the King Power Stadium at the end of the season when his contract expired. This week, the club confirmed that the 38-year-old would be playing his final match for the club on Sunday rather than next weekend so he could bow out in front of the home fans.
The forward would mark the occasion with a goal just before the half-hour mark as Leicester beat Ipswich 2-0 in the East Midlands. Despite the Foxes going down with their opponents today, Vardy's goal return has been respectable in the Premier League.
His 200th career goal for Leicester was his ninth in the Premier League this season and speculation has been building as to whether or not Leeds would take a punt on him. Vardy was born in nearby Sheffield and has already stated that his desire is to continue playing in the top flight next season.
Speaking to Sky Sports ahead of his final appearance for Leicester, he explained: "I’ve always said I’ll keep going until my legs literally tell me ‘you need to stop we’re done’, and my legs are fine. No [I don't have any doubts about my ability in the Premier League]... But that’s just me."
Doubling down on his desire to play in the Premier League next season, he added: "100%, 100%. But again, football is a crazy world, so you never know what is going to happen."
At 38, Vardy would provide invaluable experience for the Whites in the top flight next season. However, there would be a desire for him not to be the leading striker in the battle to stay in the division.
The past two seasons in the Premier League have seen all three teams promoted from the Championship drop into the second tier after just one campaign at the top. Leeds will feel they have a good chance of sticking around if Daniel Farke receives backing from the boardroom.