City may face battle to keep Matty Fryatt

Leicester City's resolve to keep leading scorer Matty Fryatt could be tested during the January transfer window.

Speculation has been rife that Premier League clubs, including Hull City and Wolverhampton Wanderers, have been monitoring the 23-year-old ever since his superb start to the season.

This weekend, press reports linked Wigan with a possible £3 million move for City's 12-goal striker (pictured.

Sources in Lancashire say the reports could be more than speculation as Latics boss Roberto Martinez has been an admirer of Fryatt's talents since they were team-mates at Walsall during the 2002-03 season.

Wigan have a striker shortage and Martinez has prioritised strengthening his attack this month.

City boss Nigel Pearson has stated he will have to wheel and deal in the transfer market to strengthen his team. It is believed he has identified at least two targets, but he will not make a move until he has moved players on.

Pearson will certainly be reluctant to sell his top scorer and main striker, and an offer of just £3 million may not be enough to tempt him.

The City boss would prefer to finance any signings by off-loading players considered surplus to requirements. He has been linked with moves for Arsenal defender Kerrea Gilbert, Bristol Rovers midfielder Chris Lines and Birmingham City utility man Damien Johnson.

A defender will certainly be on Pearson's shopping list, especially as Aleksandar Tunchev's injury problems continue, while Gilbert is a player Pearson knows well after his loan stint at the Walkers Stadium last season. City have been linked with 24-year-old Lines before, but the Rovers player is out of contract in the summer. If he doesn't agree a new contract by the end of the month he will be free to talk to other clubs about a summer move and City are said to be interested.

Blues veteran Johnson, who has only just returned to action after more than a year on the sidelines with a spinal disc problem, is also out of contract at the end of the season and City are believed to have shown an interest in the past in the Northern Ireland international, who can play central midfield, right midfield and at right back.

However, Blues boss Alex McLeish may be reluctant to let the 31-year-old leave at the moment as Lee Carsley and full-back Stuart Parnaby picked up injuries at Nottingham Forest at the weekend and could be out of action for several weeks.

Johnson looks likely to leave St Andrew's in the summer but McLeish may need persuading to let him join City now unless he is able to strengthen his squad this month.

One piece of business completed yesterday was the extension of striker Billy Kee's stay at Accrington Stanley.

Kee, who has made 22 appearances and scored twice for Stanley, will stay at the Crown Ground for another month.