Jamie Vardy's Leicester City decision sparks Sheffield Wednesday 'pipe dream' response | OneFootball

Sheffield Wednesday's chances of securing Jamie Vardy, after the Leicester City legend rejected returning to the Foxes, have been discussed...

Sheffield Wednesday are in League One but David Storch and co. are highly ambitious, which is why Jamie Vardy has been linked with a switch to Hillsborough at the age of 39 over a year after last playing in England with Leicester City.

It's been stated that Jamie Vardy has serious interest from boyhood club Sheffield Wednesday, with his contract coming to an end in Italy after just one season in the top flight with Cremonese and suffering relegation, much like Leicester City and Sheffield Wednesday, in the last few weeks.

Of course, when a player of his calibre becomes available, even at his age, there is going to be interest in his services. It's since been stated Leicester could also rival Wednesday for Vardy's signature in 2026/27. Also, Dutch giants Feyenoord have registered interest in Vardy more recently as well.

In truth, Vardy's wages in Italy could be an issue for Sheffield Wednesday or Leicester in the third tier. However, the positive is that Vardy has admitted his dream has always been to represent Wednesday and their hopes have been boosted further since then.

The Sheffield Wednesday verdict on Jamie Vardy after dismissing Leicester City talk

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With Vardy shutting down a return to Leicester, we asked FLW's resident Sheffield Wednesday fan pundit Patrick McKenna if he holds even more hope now that Sheffield Wednesday’s new hierarchy will be able to convince him to return to Hillsborough.

We also asked if he believes a club higher up in the pyramid with deeper pockets will snag him instead, with Patrick stating: "In regards to Vardy, Leicester City isn't a place that I would've expected him to return to anyway. He has had his story there.

"An unbelievable story and he left there having achieved all he wanted to. If he is to now find a new club, to be honest, Sheffield Wednesday kind of remains a pipe dream for Wednesday supporters.

"Yes, I think we could possibly get carried away with the notion that he wants to come and finish his career at his boyhood club.

"Being in the third tier of English football, we are certainly in a weaker financial position than a number of clubs higher up the pyramid across different countries.

"Ultimately, it comes down to Vardy. If he doesn't want to take a wage cut and wants another season with a higher wage, which he is fully entitled to, then we will lose out.

"So, yeah, I think that is the more likely option. But there is no harm in people thinking that there's a possibility he would come to Hillsborough.

"Not until he's signed with his next club, whoever that may be."

Jamie Vardy's chances of joining Sheffield Wednesday in League One

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Vardy would surely score freely in League One but he will surely have offers above the wages of clubs in the third tier. A return would be romantic, without doubt, but is it realistic?

Of course, Vardy has previously admitted he loved scoring against Sheffield United, which the Owls fans will love. But is that enough? Surely the competition may be too fierce given the finances they can provide the striker in the twilight of his playing career.

As romantic as a return would be, a move for Vardy still feels unrealistic but not totally impossible. The financial gap between a veteran striker of his profile and a League One budget is enormous, even with Sheffield Wednesday's new ownership bringing serious optimism.

Vardy has spent years earning Premier League-level wages and still possesses enough reputation and marketability to attract interest from abroad, where salaries and lifestyle opportunities are likely to be far more appealing. Another adventure akin to Cremonese surely awaits?

At this stage of his career, another overseas adventure looks much more plausible than dropping into the third tier of English football. But trying for him is without question, especially with Leicester out of the picture, and also given that they can tug on his heartstrings in ways other clubs simply cannot.