BBC Sports News: A Hearts hero who rode a “storm” after sending a direct message about the future was rewarded with a new deal with Leicester City this afternoon…

Vardy plays his last City match this Sunday, at home to Ipswich, with no plans for him to feature against Bournemouth on the Premier League’s final weekend.

But while it’s the end of his time at City, it’s not the end of his career. Vardy, now 38, has no intention of retiring.

He says where he goes next cannot be predicted, but it seems he won’t be playing against City next term, as he is setting his sights on playing in a top-tier division.

That would rule out a move to Hollywood-backed Wrexham, who return to the Championship next term and are one of the clubs he has so far been linked to.

“I’ve always said I’ll keep going until my legs literally tell me, no, you need to stop, we’re done,” Vardy told Sky Sports. “And my legs are fine.”

When it was put to Vardy that he wouldn’t leave City for another Championship side, and that he believes he can play at an elite level, whether that’s the Premier League or abroad, he said: “Yeah, 100 per cent. But again, football’s a crazy world. So you never know what’s going to happen.

“I’m always excited (for what comes next). Always. At the end of the day, I’m doing a sport that I love.”

While he only scored three times during City’s last relegation, Vardy has netted eight goals this season, as well as providing four assists, to show what he can still offer at the top level.

He will hope to get to nine goals for the season this weekend, as that would take him up to 200 in total for City.

However, the emotions of the occasion do not yet appear to have sunk in.

“If you speak to my family, they’ll all say I’m emotionless,” he said. “It might do (sink in) at the end of the game, but until that happens, I’m just focused on the game.

“At the end of the day there’s still a game of football to play first. If it doesn’t (sink in), then my family are right!”