Gary Lineker backs Leicester to sign new defender after MOTD clip v Aston Villa
Gary Lineker has tipped Leicester to sign a new defender this month after their 2-1 loss against Aston Villa at Villa Park on Saturday.
The Foxes succumbed to yet another defeat on 4 January, with a mistake from James Justin allowing Leon Bailey to grab the victory for the hosts.
Reviewing the clip, Lineker, the player-turned-pundit, described the error as a “shame” and backed Ruud van Nistelrooy’s side to avoid relegation if they sign a good defender during the ongoing January transfer window.
“It’s a shame, but if Leicester sign a defender in the window, a good one, I still think they will stay up. I hope”, Lineker said on BBC Match of the Day (4 January).
Leicester fan Gary Lineker optimistic despite loss v Aston Villa
Things are looking increasingly bleak for the former Premier League champions as they are placed 19th in the Premier League after 20 games.
They sit two points below 17th-placed Wolves, who could extend the gap to five points if they beat Nottingham Forest on Monday, 6 January.
Leicester’s new manager bounce has waned off as they have lost each of their five games, scoring just twice in the process, while Wolves have won two and drawn one since Vitor Pereira took charge.
Aston Villa, meanwhile, registered their second win in five games by beating the Foxes on Saturday.
Unai Emery’s side are placed eighth in the table, sitting just four points behind fourth-placed Chelsea.
The Birmingham-based club will be hopeful of being more consistent in the second half of the season as they look to qualify for the UEFA Champions League.
They intend to do so by strengthening their squad in certain areas, with Donyell Malen already identified as their top target for the January transfer window [Patrick Berger].
In other Aston Villa news, Sunderland have been named as the next destination for this Villa ace.
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