The funds are there and the targets are lined up, now all that’s needed is for Leicester City manager Ruud van Nistelrooy to decide where he feels the squad is short.
Ahead of his first transfer window as manager, van Nistelrooy has said he's been told there will be cash to spend in January. He has also praised the club’s scouting and recruitment set-up, with potential signings already identified across the pitch so that City can move quickly no matter where they feel needs strengthening.
But deciding which positions need to be addressed is not a simple task and with opinions perhaps changing over the past month or so. A new manager with a slightly different gameplan will have different ideas over where the squad's weaknesses lie, but also, there have been injuries picked up.
Most recently, Mads Hermansen was substituted at half-time at Newcastle with a groin problem. Assessments will be made this week to determine how long, if at all, the Dane will have to sit out.
But if it’s a couple of months or more, then a new goalkeeper might shoot up to the top of the wishlist, given Hermansen’s importance to the club. Interestingly, former manager Steve Cooper did want a new back-up to Hermansen in the summer to provide better competition.
Luton’s Thomas Kaminski was the man they targeted. If they had been successful, the Belgian may have been making his league debut for the club at Newcastle.
But if Hermansen is fine, or only sidelined for a short spell, then outfield positions again come in to focus. But injuries may again be at the forefront of van Nistelrooy’s thinking.
There’s no Ricardo Pereira until March and that leaves City with just three full-backs. With Luke Thomas yet to make an appearance under the new manager, it doesn’t seem like there’s much competition for James Justin and Victor Kristiansen right now, and neither are having great seasons.
Plus, bringing in a new right-back who can invert into midfield, as Ricardo did last season, would give van Nistelrooy a different way of playing, one he has spoken about but not yet been able to utilise. In one signing, City could add variety and competition.
Abdul Fatawu’s injury may have a say on City’s plans too. The winger is out until at least next summer and while City are not short on attackers, they do look light on wide-men who stay wide.
This season, all of Facundo Buonanotte, Bilal El Khannouss, Jordan Ayew and Bobby De Cordova-Reid have started on the wing and then moved inside to become a second no.10. But there’s only Kasey McAteer and Stephy Mavididi left in the squad who are more traditional wingers, sticking to the touchline and looking to beat their full-backs in one-on-ones.
That could be something City look at too, especially knowing that Fatawu is not going to return at any point this season. It’s just McAteer and Mavididi unless somebody new is brought in.
But the gossip around City and the transfer window has not seen them linked to players in those positions. Instead, there is speculation they will look to bring Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall back to the club, a romantic signing that would go down well with supporters, albeit it’s not clear where in van Nistelrooy’s 11 he would fit in, and if the academy graduate is the man City are most desperate for right now.
Supporters are craving a new centre-back, given City’s defensive woes, but van Nistelrooy has spoken of the “great luxury” of options he has there. Up front, there have been links to new strikers, but if Jamie Vardy is the main man and is scoring regularly, and if the manager has lots of faith in Patson Daka, there’s less need for somebody there too.
City are in for an interesting month when January comes around. And the right business could have a drastic effect on their season.
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