After the heady heights of last season's maiden Premier League title success, Leicester have been brought back down to earth this time around with their defence of the trophy being one that is almost non-existent. The task at hand was always going to be difficult, but now it seems that the challenge will be to stay out of the bottom three instead.

You could argue that Leicester's transfer business over the summer has let them down somewhat. A first XI that gave their all on their way to becoming champions is now looking slightly jaded and the new faces that were brought in have not quite made their mark yet.

They reportedly had around £30m to spend in this January transfer window and half of that has already gone on Wilfred Ndidi from Genk. But with £15m still available to spend that might not be the last bit of business that Claudio Ranieri carries out.

So let's now take a look at THREE players who could be on their way to the King Power Stadium

Francesco Acerbi

Football Soccer - Juventus v Sassuolo - Italian Serie A - Juventus stadium, Turin, Italy - 10/09/16 Juventus'  Paulo Dybala (R) in action against Sassuolo's Francesco Acerbi.  REUTERS/Giorgio Perottino.

Last season Leicester's success was built on the solid bedrock of Wes Morgan and Robert Huth. The centre-back partnership played a key role on the way to the title, but the performances of the Jamaican and German aces have not hit the same heights this time around.

Some would point to the fact that they are looking a little jaded and that the partnership could perhaps do with some freshening up. One man who may be able to add some competition to the defensive ranks is Italian Francesco Acerbi.

The 28-year-old has been monitored by his countryman Ranieri and the Leicester boss is now ready to make contact with his current club Sassoulo in a bid to snatch his signature. It is believed that a fee of £11m would be enough to bring Acerbi to Leicester.

Michael Keane

If Claudio Ranieri cannot convince his compatriot Francesco Acerbi to move to the club then he may well look closer to home in the form of a Premier League defender whose side sit just a few places above the Foxes in the table.

The man in question is Michael Keane of Burnley. Keane, who has been an ever-present in the league this season, has been attracting the interest of a number of clubs over the past few months with his performances a big reason as to why Sean Dyche's side have stayed away from the drop zone.

But you would have to anticipate that Burnley would be reluctant to sell arguably their key player to a side that is competing with them in a bid to stay up. As always, though, money talks and Keane may just about fall into Leicester's affordable price range.

Should they be prepared to test the waters with a bid of around £15m then Burnley might well find the offer hard to turn down, especially as the England U-21 international is yet to sign a new contract.

Mamadou Sahko

Should Leicester be able to find another few million, then another Premier League target may well become a possibility. That's because Liverpool have placed a £20m price tag on France international Mamadou Sahko.

Sahko has not featured since April for Liverpool due to a combination of off-field issues. Firstly he was served with a 30-day ban from UEFA due to an alleged doping offence (he was later cleared of any wrongdoing) and then he was sent home by Klopp during Liverpool's pre-season tour of the USA.

The 26-year-old signed a new contract at Anfield as recently as 2015, but it's fair to say that his days on Merseyside are now numbered, and with Liverpool naming their price, it's a case of not if but when Sahko moves on.

He may come with some baggage, but in today's market he presents himself as decent value. Although it would use up all of Leicester's remaining transfer budget, and a little bit more, you get the feeling that the extra outlay would be money well spent with Leicester nervously looking over their shoulder in terms of a relegation fight.