Leicester City almost sold goalscoring hero Jamie Vardy to Sheffield Wednesday for just £5m

Prolific striker was on verge of being sold to Championship side by Nigel Pearson

Jamie Vardy scores a stunning goal against Liverpool (GETTY IMAGES)

Leicester City’s scoring sensation Jamie Vardy was almost sold to Sheffield Wednesday last summer – for just £5m, it has been reported.

Vardy hit his 17th and 18th goals of the season for league-leaders Leicester in a 2-0 win over Liverpool on Tuesday night. The striker’s first goal, a spectacular 30-yard volley over the head of goalkeeper Simon Mignolet, was a contender for goal of the season.

Leicester remain on track for the title – and one of the most sensational football stories ever – with Vardy the inspiration up front. According to Football Insider, however, things might have been very different had Nigel Pearson, the former Leicester manager, had his wish six months ago.

Pearson is reported as having been unconvinced by Vardy and agreed to sell the forward, only for Wednesday’s Thai owners to pull out of the deal.

Football Insider reports that Pearson had decided to let Vardy go, despite his assistant manager, Steve Walsh, being convinced the striker was worth keeping at the King Power Stadium.

Pearson was replaced by Claudio Ranieri shortly afterwards.

Fortunately for Leicester, the 29-year-old stayed at the King Power and continued to lead the title charge. He also looks a dead cert for a place in Roy Hodgson’s England squad for Euro 2016.