Queens Park Rangers January transfer dossier: Redknapp mustn't forget defensive frailties in search for fresh firepower

As is always the case when Harry Redknapp is involved, a flurry of activity is expected at Loftus Road with the winter transfer window looming.

However, the QPR boss insists the club will only be looking at loan deals as they seek to rectify their relegation-threatened campaign which currently sees them two points clear of the bottom three. The future of Charlie Austin is also likely to remain under scrutiny as Redknapp attempts to assemble a squad that will ensure top flight football for another season.

What they need

Should the unthinkable happen and QPR lose Austin, either to another club or to injury, the club's dearth of alternative goal scorers will be detrimental to their survival hopes. The R's next top scorer after the former Burnley man is Leroy Fer with two strikes to his name; Redknapp's other forward options, Eduardo Vargas and Bobby Zamora, have a solitary goal between them. More firepower is desperately needed.

While their recent 3-2 win over Leicester City had plenty of merits, the R's propensity to crumble without the presence of Richard Dunne was brutally exposed. Even with the Irishman back in the team, those frailties were all too easily exploited again in the 3-2 win over West Brom. With Rio Ferdinand's impact looking like it may never come, Redknapp could do with someone else to shore up his all-too-porous backline.

Who could join?

Where to start? Redknapp is keen to throw Ravel Morrison another opportunity. The former Manchester United prodigy is a forgotten figure at West Ham United but helped the R's achieve promotion during his loan spell at the club last season.

Scott Sinclair and Aaron Lennon, both playing peripheral roles at Manchester City and Tottenham respectively, could also represent shrewd moves. Old Redknapp favourites Peter Crouch and Jermain Defoe have been considered but are not viable, according to the manager himself.

Who could leave?

Austin, the highest scoring Englishman this season, has no shortage of admirers but Redknapp's recent comments suggest the club will be doing everything to ensure he remains where he is. Adel Taarabt, on the other hand, will be ushered out the door as soon as anything resembling a half-decent offer comes into Redknapp's in-tray following their public bust-up. Junior Hoilett is another who could be allowed to leave.

What the manager has said

"We're not looking to spend. If there's a loan or two out there we would be interested, that's where we are at.

"We spent some money in the summer, so we're not that far short. Hopefully we can find another striker to add to the ones we've got already, so that's an area we are looking at.

"In January it's always difficult to find players. There will be someone out there that can come and help us."