Jamie Vardy set to leave Leicester City for Everton

Everton will make Jamie Vardy their number one target to replace the outgoing Romelu Lukaku for the start of next season.

Jamie Vardy was not able to follow-up on Leicester's stunning Premier League winning season, with the forward finding the net only 16 times this past campaign as Leicester finished 12th. 

Vardy decided against leaving the Foxes for Arsenal last season and signed a four-year deal to keep him at the club until 2020.  

However, the disappointing season will see many players leave Leicester with Mahrez already coming out to confirm his departure as Arsenal look poised to sign the Algerian. 

Now, Vardy also looks set to leave the club after Everton made him the number one transfer target to replace Lukaku, according to the Express. The report states that the relationship Vardy shares with Everton's director of football Steve Walsh will be a large contributing factor behind the potential switch.  

The move makes perfect sense for both player and club. With the World Cup in Russia approaching in 2018, Vardy needs to take his game to the next level to compete with the likes of Harry Kane, Marcus Rashford, Daniel Sturridge and Jermaine Defoe for a spot in England's World Cup squad. Everton will definitely be a huge step-up from Leicester and Vardy will have a platform to improve.  

The 30-year-old's speed and power will also be a perfect fit for Ronald Koeman's Everton side where the focus is on offensive quickness. The striker will also be a cheaper option which allows Koeman to bring more players to the Goodison Park.