Leicester City are top of the standings in the second tier of English club football, and promotion is their top priority, but Enzo Maresca will need to make some tough calls with the transfer window beckoning.

Injuries and ineffective players are some of the big concerns for the Leicester City boss and he would require the Club to do some decent deals in the January transfer window and it might involve the positions of their Nigerian players.

Al things being equal, Wilfred Ndidi and Kelechi Iheanacho will join Nigeria for the Africa Cup of Nations in January, but they would have left the club in December.

While Ndidi is a crucial player in Maresca’s squad, Iheanacho is second choice behind 38 year-old Jamie Vardy.

The Latter’s contract runs out next year and there’s been talk of an exit as he isn’t considered the right fit for Maresca’s preferred style.

Jordan Blackwell (Leicester City Mercury) wrote:

The striker debate is obviously becoming a prominent one, mainly because both Vardy and Iheanacho haven’t done a lot in the past two games, and there have been a few other matches where they haven’t been able to have an impact.

Neither are perfect for Maresca’s system, but perfect players don’t exist in the Championship. They’d be in the Premier League otherwise.

Maresca has said that if you were to combine their qualities you would have a complete striker, so there’s a compromise to be had with both.

In his case, Ndidi’s recurring injuries are a concern for the Italian coach who also has other players in the same position struggling.

There’s the likelihood of a January buy to cover for the injuries as well as the potential International engagement for the 26 year-old midfielder.

Blackwell writes:

The other position it’s possible they might strengthen is in midfield. They tried to sign (James) McAtee on loan from Man City at the end of the summer window because of (Dennis) Praet’s injury, and recent issues to Ndidi and (Akgun) Yunus have left them a little short there.

If Praet is still struggling with his back, and with Ndidi heading off to represent Nigeria for a month, I do think it’s possible they’ll bring in someone on loan for the remainder of the season.

That is unless Alves makes strides and Maresca sees him as an option. I do think that is where he will play in the future, rather than out wide.