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Leicester City winter window manifesto for title success

| 19.12.2015
SPORTSBOOK ODDS

Matt Haynes | December 17, 2015

Leicester City are 14/1 fourth favourites with Coral to win the title. You heard it here first. Currently top, the Foxes are preparing for what will be a defining second half of the season in the Premier League.

As such, the January transfer window will be imperative and in the past it has proved to be the difference between success and failure for a number of clubs. We take a look at what the Foxes need to do to maintain a shock title charge.

New contracts crucial

Tie key players up to substantial contracts now. Before it’s too late. Already, Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez are receiving overtures from the likes of Manchester United and Arsenal and it won’t be long before others come across clubs radars.

Swansea City v Leicester City - Barclays Premier League - Liberty Stadium

The board in conjunction with boss Claudio Ranieri need to decide which personnel are fundamental and fast, before their heads are turned. Attracting star quality in January is one to way to make sure this doesn’t happen and no doubt the club have a number of targets in mind.

Reinforce midfield

Although the Foxes are top, they have leaked a number of goals this season, mainly due to having a soft centre. Gokhan Inler has failed to replace Esteban Cambiasso, with Ranieri clearly deciding the Swiss international isn’t the right fit.

As such, Nigel de Jong has been lined up to replace him and the Dutchman would add considerable steel, as well as experience having won the Premier League and FA Cup with Manchester City. Currently at AC Milan, he has fallen out of favour there, though there is no doubt he could have an instantaneous impact in the East Midlands.

Add more firepower

Strictly speaking, Leicester’s main source of goals this term has come from only one of their strikers and it gives reason to believe that Ranieri doesn’t think the rest are good enough.

While luring a star striker is unlikely, the name ‘Ranieri’ is still somewhat of a pull and such a player as Ajax forward Arkadiusz Milik might come across the Foxes’ radar. The Polish prodigy does have the potential to be world class and should Leicester snare him, they will have quite a coup.

Add centre back to strengthen spine

Wes Morgan has been a revelation this season, though it hasn’t stopped the team conceding a considerable amount of goals.

Soccer - Barclays Premier League - Southampton v Swansea City - St Mary's

Despite Ashley Williams being linked away from Swansea on numerous occasions before, they are currently a a club near to crisis having just sacked manager Garry Monk. Williams may relish the challenge of helping Leicester win the Premier League and would add definite solidity to the rearguard.

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Author

Matt Haynes

A long-suffering Leeds fan, Matt studied Sports Journalism at university, and has a plethora of multi-industry experience. Having worked on behalf of multiple hedge funds and top-tier investment banks in executive search, he has also had a stint with the BBC and the Press Association. Outside of work, he pursues entrepreneurial activities and likes to keep fit.
Although he has interviewed current England manager Roy Hodgson as well as Rafa Benitez and a number of other names, he is honoured to have spent time in the company of Gordon Banks. Matt enjoys cultivating long-lasting professional and personal relationships, is solution orientated, and supports Coral’s sports content provision.