Jamie Vardy to join Sheffield Wednesday? David Storch warned against doing 'anything crazy' | OneFootball

The veteran striker has been linked with a sensational return to his boyhood club.

Jamie Vardy suffered the third relegation of his career on Sunday as Cremonese fell to a heavy 4-1 defeat to Como, who subsequently qualified for their first Champions League.

The forward moved to the Italian side last summer from Leicester City, who were relegated from the Premier League last term and after another demotion, will be playing League One football next season with Sheffield Wednesday, the 39-year-old's former club.

Vardy has been tipped to return to English football, and that speculation is bound to intensify now that the regular season is complete and he has become a free agent in the process.

The veteran striker has been linked with a return to Hillsborough, but under what conditions could he return to his boyhood club?

Sheffield Wednesday should be sensible in Jamie Vardy approach

Given that Vardy started his career with Wednesday before being released and dropping into the non-league game, it was inevitable that he would be linked with a return to his boyhood club in the latter stages of his career.

A possible move has now been made more realistic by the fate of Cremonese, who have been relegated, while the Owls have also gone down but have new ownership.

Reports state that a possible move for the forward has been discussed at the South Yorkshire club as they prepare for their return to third-tier football.

When asked if his club should go all out for their former striker now that Cremonese's fate has been sealed, FLW's Sheffield Wednesday fan pundit Patrick McKenna shared his views.

"I think it's important that we don't go all out for anybody," he told Football League World.

"If we could get Jamie Vardy in, I think it's still quite a remote possibility, with the second point being wages, but if somehow we could convince him to come, and it's not a crazy wage, then yes.

"But we do have to stick to the blueprint that we are going to be setting down, which is going to form a structure at the club that we're going to build on for the next few years, so we can't do anything crazy in regards to Jamie Vardy, but I suppose it doesn't mean we can't consider him and see if there is something we can do.

"Not just for Jamie Vardy. I don't think we should go all out for anybody or take any sort of reckless approach and pay way over the odds for anyone, but yeah, Jamie Vardy at Hillsborough next season, it would be some signing, no doubt, but I still think at this stage it's a long way off."

Why Vardy would be a solid addition for the Owls

It is often said that players should not return to their former clubs, and there is some truth to that, but on current evidence, Vardy would be worth a punt if Wednesday can get a good financial deal.

As Patrick stated, Wednesday should not go all out to sign the 39-year-old, but if they can acquire him on reduced wages, then he is worth pursuing.

Despite Cremonese's relegation, the striker had an encouraging campaign, notching seven goals and three assists, finishing as the club's second top scorer behind Federico Bonazzoli.

Yes, seven goals may not seem a lot, but Serie A is a pretty low-scoring division, and his goal conversion (23%) and shot accuracy (47%), according to BBC Sport, actually rate higher than the league's top scorer, Lautaro Martinez.

While his numbers over the last two seasons in top-flight football have dwindled, his most recent returns in the Championship

Beyond his goals, Vardy possesses experience that would be hard to find in the third tier, with several titles and international pedigree coveting his incredible career.

Perhaps the biggest boost would be the feel-good factor that he would inject into the Hillsborough crowd, and nobody can rile up supporters like the 39-year-old.

Of course, there are several hoops that Wednesday would have to jump through to secure Vardy, but if the price is right, then he would be some addition.