Jamie Vardy could be the missing piece of the puzzle for Arsenal if the Leicester striker completes a transfer to the Gunners this summer, according to Martin Keown.
Standard Sport understands that Arsenal hope to wrap up a deal for Vardy before the beginning of the European Championships, where the striker will play as part of Roy Hodgson's England side.
The 29-year-old has attracted the interest of Arsene Wenger after ending last season as the Premier League's second-highest goalscorer with 24 strikes to his name - which played a huge part in Leicester winning their first-ever top-flight title.
With Arsenal now preparing to activate the release clause in Vardy’s contract, reported to be £20million for clubs in the Champions League, former Gunners and England centre-back Keown believes Wenger is making the right move in pursuing 29-year-old Vardy.
Speaking exclusively to 888sport, Keown said: "If you look at Vardy and you look at what Arsenal don’t have down the middle with their strikers – someone who likes to run behind a defence – then if you feed him he’s a real handful and as good as anyone.
"He’d be a player who would strengthen Arsenal and give them more variation to their play which they lack down that central area."
Read the full 888sport interview with Martin Keown, including his thoughts on what John Stones needs to do to reach the level of Rio Ferdinand here.
