What Dean Smith said about Jamie Vardy in 2024 could point towards Leicester City star’s next move

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On Thursday, thousands of Leicester City fans were left tearful as Jamie Vardy shared an update that supporters were fearing would come.

Vardy announced he will leave Leicester City at the end of the 2024/25 campaign, bringing the curtain down on an illustrious career at the King Power Stadium.

Joining for just £1 million from Fleetwood Town in 2012, Vardy rose to prominence as a Leicester legend, firing the Foxes to two Championship titles, a Premier League, an FA Cup, and even a quarter-final run in the Champions League.

Unsurprisingly, Leicester fans were saddened by Vardy’s announcement and were unable to contain their emotions on social media.

But the supporters and those not even connected with the club will be wondering where he’s heading next, with the possibility of him returning to work under one of his former managers.

• READ MORE: Why Jamie Vardy future after Leicester City exit confirmed will be of great concern to Jermain Defoe

Dean Smith wanted Jamie Vardy to join Charlotte FC in 2024

The MLS is known as a retirement home for many English stars in years gone by, including the likes of Steven Gerrard, Wayne Rooney and Frank Lampard.

It remains to be seen whether Vardy follows in the same direction as those legendary players, but interestingly, in August 2024, former Leicester manager Dean Smith tried to sign the 38-year-old for Charlotte FC and even tried to persuade him with a text.

“I did text him and see if he wanted to come over to America. I knew that it was going to be hard once he took Leicester back to the Premier League. [I love] his enthusiasm for the game,” Smith told GIVEMESPORT at the time.

Smith only worked with Vardy briefly from April to June 2023, as he failed in his attempt to keep City in the Premier League.

However, with the prolific striker soon to leave Leicester, perhaps a move to the MLS is something that will appeal to him.

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Ruud van Nistelrooy shares verdict on Vardy’s next move

Leicester only have five more matches of a disastrous campaign to go, and Vardy will want to bow out in the best way possible.

The Englishman needs two more goals in his remaining games to hit the 200-goal mark for the Foxes, which would be an unbelievable achievement.

Speaking ahead of their visit to Wolves on Saturday, under-fire boss Ruud van Nistelrooy has revealed that Vardy has already spoken about his next move but he’s open about the opportunities set to come his way.

“He talked about his next move. It’s an open book. For him, it’s a time to reflect, from the conversation I had with him,” Van Nistelrooy said.

“Of course, together with his family, he has to make a decision where to play because he wants to carry on playing. That’s as far as it went.”