Rebekah Vardy is suing Coleen Rooney for libel over their online fallout last year.

The former friends have been at loggerheads since Coleen, the wife of former Manchester United and England striker Wayne, accused Rebekah – who is married to Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy of ‘selling stories’ about her private life to The Sun publication in 2019. Read  here.

Vardy, 38, denied any wrongdoing and later said the stress of their public fall out caused her to have severe anxiety attacks as she was pregnant at that time.

She is now suing her former friend for allegedly publishing false statements that were damaging to her reputation.

Court listings show that Vardy filed a claim for “defamation – libel and slander” to the High Court on 12 June.

Reacting to the new development, Rooney’s legal team said she felt the “time and money could be put to better use”.

Paul Lunt, of Brabners, said: “It is disappointing that Mrs Vardy has chosen to issue court proceedings. Coleen feels that the time and money involved could be put to better use; her offer to meet face to face still stands. Mrs Vardy’s decision to issue court proceedings does at least mean that Coleen’s evidence can be made public when the time is right.”

The combined legal fees are set to cost up to £1m, The Sun reported.