Jamie Vardy set to make a surprise return to English football at age 39

After spending only a single campaign in Italy, Jamie Vardy could be heading back to English football, with West Ham surprisingly listing the 39-year-old forward as a potential signing.

West Ham turn their attention to Jamie Vardy

According to The Times, West Ham is considering signing Jamie Vardy on a free transfer as the London club looks to add an experienced striker. The former Leicester City hitman is currently without a club after finishing his spell with Cremonese.

Sky Sports, as cited by GOAL, reports that West Ham are closely monitoring Vardy's situation. The London Stadium side has just been relegated to the Championship and aims to quickly return to the Premier League, making a seasoned goal-scorer like Vardy a worthwhile option.

West Ham is currently managed by Nuno Espirito Santo. The Portuguese coach wants to bolster his attacking options before the transfer window closes, even though the squad still includes names like Taty Castellanos, Pablo, and captain Jarrod Bowen.

The Times reports that Vardy could serve as a backup plan if West Ham fails to reach an agreement for Troy Parrott from AZ Alkmaar. The Irish striker is valued at over £15 million and has also attracted interest from RB Leipzig.

At 39, Vardy is not ready to call it quits

West Ham's interest in Jamie Vardy is particularly noteworthy given that the English striker has turned 39. However, his performances in Serie A last season show he still has the ability to compete at the highest level.

Playing for Cremonese, Vardy scored 7 goals in 29 appearances. Although his goals couldn't prevent the Italian club from being relegated at the end of the season, that tally is still impressive for a striker in the twilight of his career. After leaving Cremonese in June, Vardy became a free agent.

More importantly, Vardy has no plans to retire. The 1987-born striker is believed to want to continue playing at least one more professional season and is weighing his options for the next chapter of his career.

Earlier, Vardy was linked with a return to Sheffield Wednesday, the club he supported as a child. However, the English striker himself dismissed that possibility on his personal podcast, making West Ham one of the most notable potential destinations for him at this point.

A special weapon for the promotion battle

If the deal goes through, West Ham would gain one of the most experienced strikers in English football. Vardy was part of Leicester City's historic Premier League title win in 2016 and has played hundreds of matches in English competitions.

Notably, Vardy is no stranger to the Championship. His experience in long campaigns, natural goal-scoring instinct, and ability to influence the dressing room could make the 39-year-old a valuable asset for West Ham, even if he is no longer fit enough to start every game.

For West Ham, this is also a relatively low-risk financial move since Vardy is a free agent. With the Hammers aiming for an immediate return to the Premier League, a short-term contract with the striker who created the greatest fairy tale in modern Premier League history could provide a significant boost.

If he puts pen to paper with West Ham, Jamie Vardy would make a comeback to English football full of surprises at the age of 39. And for a player who has spent his entire career breaking seemingly impossible limits, this may not yet be the final chapter in the special story of the English striker.