Leicester striker Jamie Vardy has revealed ahead of England's World Cup qualifier against Slovakia that Sam Allardyce had the opportunity to sign him for West Ham.
Vardy capped a meteoric rise from non-league football in 2011 with Fleetwood Town to becoming a Premier League title winner and England international last season, scoring at Euro 2016 for the Three Lions.
Arsenal tried and failed to sign the 29-year-old before he secured a new long-term deal with Claudio Ranieri's champions, but Vardy suggests it could have been very different had Allardyce - set to make his England coaching bow in Slovakia on Sunday - managed to take the forward to Upton Park while West Ham boss.
"When I first arrived for the squad, the manager told me a little story of when I was at Fleetwood and their manager was trying to get him to sign me at West Ham," said Vardy.
But Allardyce was unsuccessful and Vardy made the move to Leicester in 2012, taking the Foxes from Championships hopefuls to English title holders in four seasons.
Vardy's dream season ended in disappointment as England crashed out of Euro 2016 to Iceland, but the forward says Allardyce's approach is to try and help the players relax and enjoy international duty rather than fear the pressure - starting against Slovakia on Sunday.
"The good thing is the new manager wants to make it as much as if we were just at normal clubs," he added. "One of the main things is making it enjoyable.
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"The last thing you want is to make it harsh and gruelling so when you get called up again you’re thinking: 'Oh, wow, I’ve got to go there.'
"If you make it enjoyable, you are definitely up for coming, very excited – but obviously you’ve got to be professional."
