January Transfer Blueprint: Leicester City
***The Transfer Blueprint series details what each Premier League club should be looking for as the January window approaches. Comment below with your own thoughts about what each club should acquire***
Our Transfer Blueprint series rolls on with one of the most exciting teams in the Premier League thus far: Leicester City. After yesterday’s results, they hold third place all by their lonesome powered with two terrific offensive players. Riyad Mahrez and Jamie Vardy have been the top attacking duo in the League to date and make Leicester City must watch football. What must the Foxes do in the January window to further their fairytale run?
What They Should Buy: Leicester’s offense has been a ticking time bomb this season. They can strike anywhere, anytime. The trouble is, they are too dependent on Mahrez and Vardy to carry the attack. If either of their play begins to regress to the mean (aka come back to Earth) then it could spell trouble.
The easiest way to protect against this would be to add some more attacking talent. This may seem silly given their offensive success through 11 games, but they need to strengthen to protect their attack. For example, Vardy has been a goal scoring maniac with 11 goals, but his partner Shinji Okazaki only has one. If they could buy another legitimate Premier League striker it would protect Vardy from opponents and the club from a dip in Vardy’s form.
Mahrez could use some help in the midfield as well, but that’s a much less pressing issue. The central midfield pairing of Andy King and Danny Drinkwater has been (surprisingly) effective although King could be improved upon relatively easily. Marc Albrighton on the other wing has also been very competent. They could improve their midfield, but they have more pressing business.
The pressing business is their highly questionable defense. Let’s start with the worst of the group which is surprisingly, keeper Kasper Schmeichel. I’ll wager that most Leicester fans don’t know his 6.39 Whoscored rating is among the worst in the Premier League for a starting keeper. I’d give serious consideration to, at the very least, bringing in some competition at keeper.
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Of course, part of Schmeichel’s issue might be the centre back pairing in front of him. Neither Robert Huth or Wes Morgan is a world-class defender. I think the Foxes could get away with playing one of those two every week, but not both. I don’t even care which of them is replaced. They’re both the same age and have performed at nearly identical levels through 11 games. One of them should be upgraded.
What They Should Sell: The Foxes have a few “name” players that could be sold for a reasonable sum. There are probably still believers Andrej Kramaric out there and if he can be sold for an appreciable sum, I’d advise it.
I feel obligated to address the elephant in the room about the possible sale of Jamie Vardy as well. Given Leicester’s current position in the League there’s no way in Hades they should sell him. I suppose there is some sum out there that would make it worthwhile, but it might require a Premier League record sum. He and Mahrez should be untouchable unless someone makes a triple digit offer for either of them. Note, Leicester fans, I don’t believe any of the rumors about him being up for sale. So don’t bother lumping me in with those reporters.
What They Will Do: I’m optimistic that Leicester ownership is going to really go for it in January. They seem to understand, as a club, that this is a chance to do something special. They’ve caught lightning in a bottle with Mahrez and Vardy and they should do everything they can to capitalize on it.
I think you’ll see some established, Premier League purchases by the Foxes in the defense and midfield. I’m not sure they will see their striker situation the same way I do, and I can at least understand that. Ironically, I think they’ll look to bring in a real strong presence in the midfield just like the one they let go with Cambiasso. The acquisition of that and a solid Premier League defender is the minimum I expect from Leicester in January. I’d like to see some young talent acquired as well, but that’s probably going to be left for the summer.