After their shock title win last season, a number of Leicester fans at the Transfer Tavern were hoping they could push on and challenge the top sides on a consistent basis.

While Ranieri has managed to keep the same core squad together as last year, the Foxes have underwhelmed in the league so far and currently sit in 12th place.

Record-signing Islam Slimani has looked good when he’s played, but other signings like Luis Hernandez and Nampalys Mendy have either failed to impress or struggled with injury.

Even though Leicester have struggled in the league, they have plenty to cheer about in Europe after securing back-to-back wins in their first two games of their debut Champions League campaign.

Should Leicester carry on as they are and make it through to the knockout stages, they’ll struggle to cope with the busy schedule without bringing in some new faces.

With that in mind, the Tavern have put together a list of FOUR players Leicester need to sign in January…..

MICHAEL KEANE

A player heavily linked with the Foxes over the summer, Leicester could do a lot worse than going back in for Michael Keane.

A key player for Burnley, Keane has put in some dogged defensive performances to earn the Clarets surprise wins against Liverpool and Watford.

The 23-year-old would be well at home at the King Power stadium as well, having impressed on loan for the Foxes in the 2012/13 season.

Leicester chose not to meet his £15m valuation in the summer however and, after being called up for England, that price tag is only going to rise.

KIERAN TRIPPIER

Although there wasn’t a bad word to say in the Tavern about anyone in the Leicester squad last season, even the most fervent fan identified a potential weak link.

Danny Simpson has occasionally looked a little rash for the Foxes and picked up silly booking, while Luis Hernandez hasn’t looked comfortable at right-back either.

Luckily for the Foxes, arguably one of the league’s best full backs is sat on the bench at Spurs in Kieran Trippier.

With Kyle Walker playing as well as he is, Trippier is unlikely to see as much first-team football as he’d like. Leicester could do a lot worse.

ADRIEN SILVA

Another player the Foxes were heavily linked with over the summer was Adrien Silva.

Slimani’s former teammate at Sporting, Adrien is a silky midfielder who can do it all; dribble, pass, tackle and score.

With a hole inevitably left by Kante’s departure, Leicester desperately need someone to fill it with King and Mendy failing to nail a starting role currently.

The only problem is prising Sporting’s captain away from them, but with figures upwards of £25m being touted, the Foxes may just get their man.

GYLFI SIGURDSSON

While Leicester’s system worked perfectly for them last season, it’s no secret they could do with a number ten.

Without Kante beside him, Danny Drinkwater has often found himself playing the role of ball-winner rather than playmaker, with Mahrez, Vardy and Slimani have less long balls to run off.

A player like Gylfi Sigurdsson would take some of the creative weight off Drinkwater’s back, while he would also provide more in a five-man midfield than someone like Andy King.

Considering his dead-ball prowess, Leicester may also score more from set-pieces, another area they struggled on last year.