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JAMIE VARDY

CHANTILLY. — Jamie Vardy has snubbed Arsenal to focus on helping England win Euro 2016.

The Three Lions striker has been agonising over a £20m move to the Gunners after Arsene Wenger’s men activated the release clause in his Leicester contract.

He has spent the last few days mulling over his next move following last-gasp talks with the Foxes.

England boss Roy Hodgson has been concerned about the unwanted distraction so close to his side’s opening Group B showdown with Russia in Marseille on Saturday.

He wants Vardy to focus on the immediate challenge of helping England succeed in France.

Now it has emerged Vardy has spoken to Hodgson to assure him he is concentrating on the job in hand.

Vardy has told Hodgson he will deal with the Gunners after England have finished their campaign across the Channel.

And Arsene Wenger is now bracing for disappointment in his attempt to sign Vardy.

The striker’s current club Leicester came back with an improved contract offer on Monday, and Vardy’s team-mates have made an emotional plea to stop him joining Wenger at Arsenal.

Arsenal are NOT interested in signing Leicester star Riyad Mahrez amid growing concerns they may miss out on Vardy.

Media reports had suggested the Gunners may turn their attentions to a swoop for PFA Player of the Year Mahrez following a stellar campaign in Leicester’s unlikely title-winning season.

The Algerian hit 17 goals and laid on 11 more for his teammates as the Foxes became champions of England for the first time in their history.

But he will not be moving to the Emirates, with the Gunners instead firmly setting their sights on his King Power teammate Vardy.

Wenger is growing concerned the striker may remain with his current club after failing to tie up a deal prior to Euro 2016.

Arsenal had hoped to tie up a deal for Vardy prior to him jetting off for his first experience of an international tournament having triggered his £20million release clause.

However, he is now stewing over a double-your-money move to the Emirates while Leicester put together their own pay rise to try and keep him in the East Midlands

Vardy (29) had promised the Gunners’ boss an answer on Monday, when he flew out with England for Euro 2016 duty in France. But he did not get in contact, leaving the Londoners fearing the worst.

Boss Wenger, who had offered to meet the player’s £20million buy-out clause, believes he would have accepted Arsenal’s offer by now if he was keen to move to the Emirates.

Instead, his silence was deafening.

The Gunners offered a contract worth around £120 000-a-week worth over four years — double what he is currently on at Leicester after signing a new deal only in February.

But, as revealed on Monday , the champions’ Thai owners are understood to have moved quickly by proposing improved terms to take Vardy up towards the £100 000-a-week mark.

Vardy has also been told by England boss Roy Hodgson to put the transfer talk on hold to concentrate on the Euros, and agents have been banned from the training base in Chantilly.

Leicester midfielder Andy King has revealed the whole dressing room have gathered together to plead with Vardy to stay. — The Daily Star- The Mirror.