Coleen Rooney has lost a bid to bring a High Court claim against Rebekah Vardy’s agent as part of a legal battle between the footballers’ wives over an online post.

Mrs Vardy, 39, sued Mrs Rooney, 35, for libel after she publicly accused her of leaking stories about her private life to The Sun.

The wife of former England star Wayne Rooney carried out a months-long “sting operation” in which she posted fake stories on her personal Instagram page in a bid to catch out the culprit – earning the nickname “Wagatha Christie”.

This has been a burden in my life for a few years now and finally I have got to the bottom of it…… pic.twitter.com/0YqJAoXuK1

She eventually pointed the finger at Vardy, the wife of Leicester City striker Jamie, who denies the allegations.

Mrs Rooney’s lawyers previously claimed that Mrs Vardy had leaked information to the newspaper either directly or through her agent Caroline Watt.

Mrs Rooney had asked for permission to bring an additional claim against Ms Watt for misuse of private information and during a hearing last week, she had asked for this to be heard with the libel case.

On Monday Mrs Justice Steyn refused permission for the additional claim against Ms Watt and refused permission for it to be heard with the libel trial.

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But Mrs Rooney was given permission to amend her defence case to include an allegation that Mrs Vardy, through Ms Watt, provided information to The Sun about an unnamed professional footballer.

She will also allow the disclosure of WhatsApp messages between Mrs Vardy and Ms Watt during the relevant period, and will allow Mrs Rooney’s application for an order that both parties make a joint request for information to Instagram.

Other requests for disclosure from Mrs Rooney and Mrs Vardy were refused.

The libel trial is due to take place in May, but could be delayed.

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