Can Leicester recruit enough quality in January to survive?

Leicester boss Nigel Pearson could be a busy man in the January transfer as he looks to guide his team to Premier League safety

Leicester City currently occupy 20^th place in the Premier League after a difficult first half of the season back in the top-flight.

With 17 games of the league campaign left, time is running out for the Foxes to get out of the relegation zone.

January

January may not be the ideal time to sign players, but Leicester are badly in need of fresh impetus that sometimes can only be supplied by new signings. Foxes boss Nigel Pearson could be busy this month bringing in new additions.

Pearson has already added veteran Mark Schwarzer to his squad, after the 42-year-old joined the club from Chelsea on a free transfer, signing an 18-month deal with the side from the Midlands.

Even in the ultra-veteran stage of his career Schwarzer could prove to be a shrewd signing.

Current first choice keeper Kasper Schmeichel is out of action through injury and back-up Ben Hamer has not always looked convincing in the Dane’s absence.

Another name being linked with a move to the Foxes is highly-rated Croatian striker Andrej Kramaric of Rijeka. The 23-year-old is believed to be close to agreeing a three-and-a-half year contract with the Foxes, subject to a work permit being approved.

The striker has impressed in his homeland and reportedly also attracted the interest of Premier League leaders Chelsea.

However, it seems that it is the struggling Foxes who could sign the forward. Since Kramaric joined Rijeka from Dinamo Zagreb in 2013 he has found the net 55 goals in 66 appearances in all competitions, including a very creditable 37 in 42 league appearances.

He certainly seems to know where the goal is and with Leicester struggling for goals this season he could be a crucial addition to the Foxes team, if he can quickly adapt to the English top-flight.

Linked

Another player that has been linked with a move to Leicester is Toronto FC striker Jermain Defoe, who looks set to leave the MLS outfit in January. The Foxes were the early favourites to sign the striker, but the 32-year-old would be an expensive player to sign.

The potential signing of Kramaric may also mean that Leicester turn their attention to targets in other positions in January.

Defence

It has been a similar story at the other end of the field, as the Foxes have conceded the joint-second most goals in the top-flight alongside Everton, which may be far more of a surprise. Only fellow Premier League newcomers QPR have conceded more goals this season in the top-flight.

Maybe Nigel Pearson will be looking at bringing in some defensive reinforcements in the winter transfer window.

The loss of first choice keeper Schmeichel has obviously not helped their cause, but the Foxes defence and boss Nigel Pearson have to take the blame for the team’s poor defensive displays this season.

The Foxes boss will be very disappointed in the way his team have defended as a former-centre-back himself. Pearson stuck with most of the defenders that helped get the club promoted and at times they have not been good enough.

It would not be a surprise if Pearson decided to bring in some defenders in January, as the current group are struggling to keep top-flight opponents out this season.

Survival

When the Foxes were promoted from the Championship they were immediately installed as one of the favourites to return to where they came from. Nothing has changed since then and the Foxes are second favourites to be relegated at odds of 4/7 to be relegated from the Premier League.

The chances of the Foxes surviving the drop do not look great at the moment, as they are currently four points away from safety. Everybody connected with the club will be hoping that their club can sign enough quality in the January transfer window, but at the moment the Foxes look destined for a short stay in the English top-flight.

Can Leicester recruit enough quality in January to survive?