Exclusive – Former Arsenal star John Hartson hails £20m move for Leicester striker Jamie Vardy

John Hartson has hailed Arsenal’s move for Jamie Vardy, claiming the striker would be a ‘fantastic signing’ for his old club.

The Gunners are in talks with the 29-year-old over a switch to the Emirates after meeting the £20m release clause in his Leicester contract.

Vardy was one of the best players in the Premier League in 2015/16, scoring 24 goals to fire the Foxes to the most unlikely of title triumphs.

Despite his outstanding campaign, some fans have expressed doubts over whether the pacey forward would suit Arsenal’s style of play under Arsene Wenger.

But Hartson insists Vardy would be a terrific addition to Wenger's squad.

Speaking on the Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast, the former Arsenal striker said: "He scored 20-odd Premier League goals last season and Arsenal are desperate for a poacher in the box, a goalscorer.

"Systems don't win you games, players win you games, and you can't have enough good players.

"Vardy is a good player. He is a goalscorer, he is sharp and he would be fantastic for the likes of [Alexis] Sanchez and [Mesut] Ozil.

"He is a willing runner, he plays on defenders' shoulders, he doesn't want to come short, he always wants to go in behind... he is a nightmare to play against. He would be a fantastic signing."

Should Vardy seal his switch, he would become Arsenal's second summer signing after the £30million arrival of Granit Xhaka from Borussia Monchengladbach last month.

Hartson expects Wenger, so often criticised for a lack of spending, to carry out plenty more transfer business this summer.

"I think there is a lot more to come," added the Welshman.

"He has been criticised for not winning the title in 12 years - rightly so because it is far too long to go without the Premier League - but he gets away with it because his Champions League record is remarkable and the money Arsene Wenger has brought into the club is phenomenal in terms of what they get now for getting through to the knockout stages of the Champions League.

"I think he will bring in another two - maybe another striker, another midfield player and a solid defender in the old fashioned mould of John Terry. 

"There is money there to spend and Arsenal will have a really, really big push I feel next season. The money is there and I think Arsene Wenger will go and spend it."