Nigel Pearson: 'Jamie Vardy is not for sale'

Leicester City manager Nigel Pearson has insisted that Jamie Vardy is not for sale.

Reports on Sunday suggested that fellow Premier League side West Bromwich Albion were ready to launch a £5m bid for the striker.

However, Pearson says that he is not interested in the speculation regarding Vardy.

"He is not for sale," Pearson told the Leicester Mercury. "He is an important part of the squad.

"That is the first I have heard of that. This is typical of this time in the season. People want to speculate to try and detract from what you have got at the football club.

"I am not interested. I don't read the papers and the speculation."

Vardy has scored once in 19 appearances for the Foxes this season.