Jamie Vardy REJECTED! Genoa boss Patrick Vieira pulls plug on move for ex-Leicester veteran as striker continues search for new club

Vardy was nearing a move to the Serie A side on a free transfer before Vieira pulled the plug on the signing, report Mail Online. Arsenal icon Vieira has managed Genoa since November 2024, leading the Italian club to 13th in Serie A in his first season. He was reportedly "unconvinced" with Vardy and "overruled" the move.

Vardy departed Leicester City on the expiry of his contract after 13 years at the club, where he had a picture-perfect record of exactly 200 goals in 500 games and won the Premier League, the FA Cup and the Championship title twice. There have been links between free agent Vardy and Rangers, Nottingham Forest, Como and Wrexham among others, but a move to Genoa is now off the table.

Rangers are now viewed as the favourites for the 38-year-old's signature. Vardy may be followed to Ibrox by former Leicester teammate Conor Coady as the Scottish giants look to build under new manager Russell Martin and owners 49ers Enterprises, who recently completed a takeover of the club.

If Vardy does move to Rangers or elsewhere, he will be confident in his ability to score goals and torment defences wherever he goes. Despite his veteran age in a football sense, Vardy's professional career famously started far later than normal as he only played in the Football League for the first time aged 25. This may indicate he still has some time left, meaning Genoa and Vieira may yet live to regret their decision not to bring him in.