Tuesday 2 February 2016 21:35, UK
Jamie Vardy is close to agreeing a new three-and-a-half year contract with Leicester City which could see him double his existing wages, Sky sources understand.
Vardy, who has scored 18 goals for the Foxes this season, is currently on a £40,000-per-week deal which runs until the summer of 2018.
His form had led to transfer interest from several clubs but manager Claudio Ranieri was consistently firm in his view that the England international would not be sold and, with the January window now closed, Leicester have moved quickly to improve Vardy's contract.
With maximum bonuses from appearances, goals, England caps and any potential European qualification, it is believed the Sheffield-born striker could earn as much as £80,000-per-week with the new deal.
There has been no official comment from Leicester, but it is understood both parties hope the deal can be finalised and signed by the end of the week.
In November, Vardy broke Ruud van Nistelrooy's record by scoring in 11 consecutive Premier League games, and the striker featured in England's final two Euro 2016 qualification matches against Estonia and Lithuania in October.