Jamie Vardy to Arsenal: ’Leaked’ picture of £20m Leicester striker holding and wearing Gunners kit ahead of move outed as a hoax

ARSENAL fans were given brief cause for celebration on Monday afternoon when images of Jamie Vardy holding their home kit appeared on social media.

Sadly for Gooners, the images were quickly outed as a hoax.

Leicester City striker Vardy has already had a face-to-face with Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger after the Gunners triggered his release clause with a £20million bid on Friday.

The image, which looked quite convincing at first glance, was obviously Granit Xhaka – the Swiss midfielder who was unveiled as an Arsenal player in May.

Those pictures of Xhaka were mistakenly leaked by his girlfriend Leonita Lekaj.

Some users on social media thought the image may have been of Jamie Vardy’s lookalike Lee Chapman – who was blocked by the striker and his wife Rebekah on social media.

The Vardy picture is clearly that same image reversed and with his head added to it.

England striker Vardy, 29, is believed to be deciding whether to stay with the Premier League champions or move to north London.

Arsenal have offered Vardy a four-year, £120,000-a-week deal after he fired the Foxes to the title last season with 24 goals.

The deal would make Vardy £40,000-a-week richer than he currently is at the Midlands club.

Conflicting reports have emerged this morning over the status of the transfer.

Some claim Vardy will decide his future before the Three Lions leave for France, while others report he is to take more time.

England manager Roy Hodgson has already stated he doesn’t want transfer talk distracting the squad ahead of their first game against Russia on Saturday.