Sir Alex Ferguson says Leicester face a challenge to maintain their terrific form unless they invest in January Sir Alex Ferguson says Leicester face a challenge to maintain their terrific form unless they invest in January

Sir Alex Ferguson believes Leicester City can win the Premier League this season - if they can get it right in the January transfer window.

The Foxes are top of the table with nine wins from 15 games, having lost only once so far this term.

Jamie Vardy celebrates his goal against Manchester United last month

Striker Jamie Vardy has scored 14 goals, breaking a Premier League record in the process, while Riyad Mahrez has 10, but the Midlands club's squad is one of the smallest in the division.

And Ferguson, who won 13 Premier League titles during his famous 27-year spell in charge of Manchester United, believes Leicester must strengthen wisely to have any chance at a first ever league title of their own.

"What is the manager Claudio Ranieri saying to the owners? Because if I were him, I'd want an investment in January, because this is a big opportunity," said Ferguson, who was speaking with Sir Michael Moritz, the co-author of his book 'Leading' at the TechCrunch Disrupt London 2015 event.

Claudio Ranieri has guided his Leicester side to the Premier League summit

"They could win the league with the way they are playing at the moment, and they have goals in their team. That is not the owners' problem. The problem for the owners is have they got the money? I think they have.

"Do they trust the coach? The problem will always lie with the coach because he has got to pick the team. Adding more players to it, he has only given himself a problem.

Riyad Mahrez celebrates with Danny Drinkwater (L) after scoring the first goal at Swansea

"At the moment, he can pick the same team because he has a limited squad and is doing very well. But if he wants to win the league, I think he should add to it. And I think there may be a great chance.

"So, for a small club historically like Leicester City, they have a challenge. How far can they go with this present squad? Can they last the whole season?"

They (Leicester) could win the league the way, they are playing at the moment - and they have goals in their team. Sir Alex Ferguson

Former United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel has watched his son Kasper excel in goal for Leicester this season, and Ferguson agrees with his former player when he said teams are underestimating them.

"I was listening to Peter Schmeichel last week and what he was saying was fantastic - talking about how people are under-estimating Leicester," Ferguson said.

"This is a team with fantastic vitality, speed, energy. Peter was saying, at the moment, Leicester are the best team in the league, without a doubt. But, the question is, how long will it last? Have they the resources to continue throughout the season?"

Sir Alex Ferguson enjoyed trophy success with Aberdeen

National newspapers have reported that Vardy has in subject of interest from the likes of Manchester United and Chelsea ahead of the winter transfer window, and Ferguson stressed the club must hold on to their best players in order to keep improving.

"When Aberdeen won the European Cup Winners' Cup, it was the greatest moment for Aberdeen in their history and it was the worst moment too," Ferguson said.

"Five players left within a year; Gordon Strachan went to Manchester United, Mark McGhee went to Hamburg. Leicester may have a situation where some players love being there and don't want to move and they will have some who do want to move to Manchester United, or Liverpool or Real Madrid. It is natural, it is progress.

"My son Darren, when he was at Peterborough, almost signed Vardy, but Leicester City came in at the time.

"There was a great article in the Daily Telegraph by Tim Sherwood about non-League football, about how people are under-estimating it. That is another example. Stuart Pearce and Cyrille Regis came from non-league football.

"This is something that maybe is being overlooked. Vardy is a great example of never giving in and keeping a great belief in himself. He has got certain assets that suit modern-day football - he is aggressive, he is quick, he has got energy and he's got a goal in him."