EPL Side Leicester Striker Jamie Vardy Plays In Unbranded Boots, Sparks Rumors

Premier League side Leicester striker Jamie Vardy "appeared to wear blacked-out boots for Leicester's clash with Manchester City, raising questions about his sponsorship future," according to Laurie Whitwell of the London DAILY MAIL. Vardy "broke Ruud van Nistelrooy's Premier League scoring record against Manchester United while shooting in gold-coloured Hyper Venoms, freshly supplied by Nike." But social media users "picked up on his footwear for the City game, which seemed to have been amended so no branding was visible." More than being a fashion statement by Vardy, something else "is likely to be the cause." He is rumored to be coming toward the end of his contract with Nike and is sure "to be a source of interest for other sport companies given his status as Premier League top scorer." Vardy "has been one of the stories of the season, capturing the nation's imagination through his remarkable scoring run, just three years after playing non-League football for Fleetwood" (DAILY MAIL, 12/30).