Leicester City January transfer dossier: Urgent surgery required to avoid relegation

Following a harrowing first five months back in the Premier League, memories of the Foxes storming to the Championship title and beating Manchester United in September have been firmly washed away. January could provide some light relief for manager Nigel Pearson, but will the short term fixes be available to help dig Leicester out of the mire? Shrewd moves in the loan market might be the best option available.

What they need

Goals. Only two teams have scored less in the Premier League this season, a statistic made all the more concerning by the fact five of their 15 came in one game against United with Leonardo Ulloa lacking a genuine partner. The Leicester back five has been largely unchanged through the season so it is in midfield where more legs are required, with Esteban Cambiasso and Danny Drinkwater often overrun.

Who could join?

With forwards seemingly top of Pearson's shopping list it should come as no surprise that a host of attacking players are being linked with a move to the King Power Stadium. Crystal Palace's Dwight Gayle, Croatian international Andrej Kramaric and Villarreal's Luciano Vietto are among them but whether the funds will be available to attract them is another matter.

Who could leave?

Seven players are out of contract at the end of the season and are free to speak to rival clubs over a move abroad in January. Anthony Knockaert, Paul Konchesky and Matthew Upson are the notable names with just six months remaining on their current deals, but such has been Leicester's poor start to the season any high-profile departures are unlikely.

What the manager has said

"We are constantly looking to find the answers," Pearson said. "The January window is a difficult one because it is not easy to get the players you want. Why would clubs want to sell their best players halfway through the season?

"I am very reluctant to get involved publicly in which players we would be looking to bring in because we want to protect the interests of ourselves, the other club and the players. If we don't end up getting them they still have to continue at the club they are playing for."