Jamie Vardy’s Age Sparks Concerns for Leicester Amid Relegation Battle

LEICESTER, England — Leicester City continues to face the threat of relegation in the Premier League, and critics say the club’s over-reliance on aging striker Jamie Vardy is a significant factor. At 38 years old, Vardy remains the Foxes‘ leading scorer this season, but his performance has dwindled, raising concerns about the team’s future.

Currently sitting in 18th place, Leicester has struggled, winning just once in their last nine matches. Vardy, who has scored only one goal since December 8, starts in nearly every game, highlighting the club’s lack of depth in forward positions. His backup, Patson Daka, has netted just once this season and primarily features in substitute roles.

Speaking to talkSPORT ahead of a crucial match against Arsenal, former Leicester defender Martin Keown expressed alarm over the club’s reliance on Vardy. “When you’re relying on a 38-year-old striker in Vardy, that’s a concern,” he said. “What he’s done for the club is remarkable, but they should have addressed the striker position by now.”

Vardy joined Leicester from Fleetwood Town in 2012 and has since approached 200 goals for the club. Despite his contributions, Keown believes the club’s failure to invest in a younger striker has left them at risk of relegation.

Leicester failed to acquire new forward talent during the January transfer window, which has compounded their scoring difficulties, as Vardy can no longer carry the team alone. Keown remarked, “It’s about getting people to put the ball in the back of the net, and they haven’t managed to do that.”

Leicester’s coach — named Van Nistelrooy — is also under scrutiny, overseeing nine losses in his 13 matches in charge. He must find a way to turn the fortunes of a club that has recently fallen from grace after winning the Premier League in 2016.

In an upcoming clash against Arsenal, the stakes could not be higher. “If they manage to win, they leapfrogged above Wolves into 17th place,” Keown noted. However, history is not in their favor, as Leicester has lost their last six meetings against Arsenal, with their last win dating back to October 2020.

Vardy has historically found success against Arsenal, scoring 11 goals against them, marking the highest tally against any single opponent. However, as the Foxes aim to dig themselves out of the relegation zone, the pressure is mounting for both the players and the coaching staff.

Kick-off for the Arsenal-Leicester match is scheduled for Saturday, February 15, at the King Power Stadium, with live coverage provided by talkSPORT.