Manchester United Transfer News: Jamie Vardy Price Set, Fresh Red Devils Rumours

Manchester United would be forced to pay £30 million for Jamie Vardy after Leicester City slapped the huge valuation on the England international striker. 

Matt Law of the Telegraph reports the Foxes will not let their primary talent leave on the cheap if United or Chelsea try to sign Vardy in January. 

Leicester want the inflated fee after witnessing the Red Devils pay £36 million for teenager Anthony Martial, who is unproven at Premier League level, per Law. Vardy signed for the King Power Stadium club for only £1 million, arriving from Fleetwood Town in 2012, and would represent an extraordinary mark up for coach Claudio Ranieri's side if he departs.

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Vardy equalled Ruud van Nistelrooy's consecutive goalscoring record in the Premier League in Leicester's recent 3-0 victory against Newcastle United, and Sky Sports MNF highlighted the 28-year-old's meteoric rise this year:

United have continued to find goalscoring a difficult art to master this season, despite their climb above Manchester City and Arsenal in the league.

The Red Devils failed to score in the recent Champions League group match against PSV Eindhoven, risking their chances of qualifying for the knockouts, when they should already be through. 

Vardy would provide pace in a United attack that's appeared pedestrian for most of the season. Wayne Rooney is a fading force, unable to inspire his team in the final-third, and coach Louis van Gaal needs to quickly assess his options. 

Goal's Kris Voakes compared both Rooney and Vardy as the players prepared to clash in the Premier League for their teams:

Voakes also spoke about the "one-dimensional" nature of United with their captain in a starring role:

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Rooney has been the personification of United going forward this term. Louis van Gaal might have made them a more solid outfit defensively but they have become one-dimensional and predictable in attack as a by-product. United have scored just six goals more than Vardy to this point, and only four clubs (Stoke, Sunderland, Newcastle and West Brom) have registered fewer shots at goal.

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Van Gaal admitted he currently believes Martial is his best No. 9 ahead of Rooney, per Jamie Jackson of the Guardian, saying: "It is how Martial played when he was in the striker’s position. I have to compare every player, then I think with playing like that, we are stronger. I shall always line up the strongest team of that moment."

Despite his exceptional form in a Leicester shirt, Vardy would be an expensive addition at £30 million, and he doesn't offer value as a 28-year-old. He is unproven when it comes to the highest level of the game and might find the pressure of a move to United too much.

The Red Devils have options within their youth ranks, as Marcus Rashford fights his way into LvG's first-team squad, but the coach has allowed James Wilson to leave the club on loan.

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James Ducker of the Times reported assistant manager Ryan Giggs is "frustrated" by the decision to let the striker leave for Brighton and Hove Albion, denying the England under-21 international the chance to solve United's goal crisis. 

Vardy would only be a short-term option for United, and at the price, it is doubtful they will move for the player. The likes of Rashford and Wilson are brimming with potential, and if Van Gaal decides to replace Rooney, he will desire a world-class name. 

Rooney has only three goals from his 15 appearances in the Premier League and Champions League group phase this term, according to WhoScored.com, and United need to find an alpha male who can provide consistently better statistics. 

United remain linked with potential moves for Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar, as reported by the Manchester Evening News' James Robson, and both talents represent the type of attacker expected to lead the line at Old Trafford.