Arsenal Transfer News: Jamie Vardy Speaks and Latest Wissam Ben Yedder Rumours

Former Arsenal target Jamie Vardy has said it was "quite easy" to turn down the Gunners this summer in favour of extending his stay at Leicester City. Elsewhere, the north Londoners have missed out on signing Wissam Ben Yedder.

Arsenal triggered the release clause in Vardy's contract with a £20 million bid in June, but the England international recently informed Sky Sports News HQ (h/t Nick Lustig of Sky Sports) it wasn't a tough choice to instead remain at the King Power Stadium:

"

It's not been put out there that I have always said the boys, the close-knit brotherhood, is unbelievable and for me, there's a lot of unfinished business here. 

I feel that the club is only going one way and that is forward, that's why I want to be a part of it. It wasn't that big [the decision] when I think about it. It was quite easy and this is where I want to be.

"

The 29-year-old travelled to Euro 2016 with England just after Arsenal launched their bid for his services, and he's since agreed a new four-year deal with the Premier League champions.

As Lustig repored, team-mate Riyad Mahrez has been linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium in recent weeks, and Vardy added he hopes the 2015-16 PFA Player of the Year will emulate him and stay at Leicester:

It would have made little sense to some had Vardy abandoned the titleholders to join the club that finished second, but the temptation to move to an established European giant is undoubtedly a factor.

One need look no further than N'Golo Kante, who moved to Chelsea in mid-July despite the fact the Blues finished 10th last season and won't be playing in Europe, let alone the UEFA Champions League, next season:

Arsenal are in dire need of attacking alternatives too, after it was reported in May that Danny Welbeck could miss nine months after undergoing knee surgery, per the Guardian.

The Gunners have also hit a wall in their pursuit of another reported attacking target too, with ESPN FC noting Sevilla have agreed a deal to sign Toulouse's Ben Yedder for a fee of €9 million (£7.6 million).

Lionel Cironneau/Associated Press

It's yet another blow for the north Londoners, with manager Arsene Wenger set to still be leaning on Olivier Giroud as his starting frontman as things stand.

Ben Yedder was the latest forward linked with Arsenal—an affordable one at that—but it appears Wenger has once again moved too slow to capture one of Ligue 1's scoring forces, his prowess detailed by OptaJose:

Many of those at the Emirates have long desired a classier presence in attack than Giroud, with Welbeck's injury woes preventing him from having much of a lasting effect up top.

Wenger will again be forced to head back to the drawing board in his pursuit of a new frontman, with Ben Yedder another reported target heading for different pastures this summer.