The transfer window has entered its final week and at Leicester City the objectives are clear: the club want to sign a centre-forward and possibly another number 10 before the deadline on Friday..

Their hopes of staying in the Premier League could depend on how successful they are at bringing in the quality needed to bolster their attack and, just two games into the new season, it already feels like a pivotal moment.

Cooper’s men have not lacked effort or heart. There also appears to be a strong bond within the group, with many players having built strong bonds during last season’s battle for the Championship title. They cannot be criticised for their performance at Craven Cottage.

But the first two games have revealed where tWhat is missing and what needs to be improved most urgently.

Cooper needs to bring more power and more physicality to his group in the final third.

Against Fulham, Leicester had just 10 touches of the ball in the opposition penalty area, continuing a worrying trend after they had just 11 touches at home to Tottenham Hotspur in their first game since returning to the elite league. To provide some context: The hosts at Craven Cottage had 31 touches of the ball in Leicester’s penalty area, while Tottenham had 62 in their opening game.

The problem is not playing out from the back, but leaving the ball hanging on the attacking line, and Leicester’s current attack lacks penetration.

Abdul Fatawu, Facundo Buonanotte, Bobby De Cordova-Reid and even Jamie Vardy, for all their aggressiveness, lack the physicality to keep the ball under pressure and allow Leicester to get forward when they defend deep. Time and time again, Fulham have had the ball stripped away from them too easily and have the pressure built up again when they are played into their own ranks.

They all want to keep their heads up and look at the opposition goal, run into space and use their pace. To ensure the balance is right, Cooper needs a different profile of striker in his ranks.

In contrast, Fulham’s attacking line featured quality players such as Adama Traore, Alex Iwobi and Rodrigo Muniz. When the Brazilian left, he was replaced by Raul Jimenez.

When Leicester needed a fresh injection of energy, they had only Stephy Mavididi and new signing Jordan Ayew, another player with a similar profile who arrived from Crystal Palace on Friday and eventually took over the No. 9 role when Vardy tired.

“Jordan has only played in the Premier League in this country so far, so he has a lot of experience,” said Cooper, who declined to comment on whether he had any hope of signing a new striker.

“He can win clever free kicks and keep the ball for us in the final third. He has been a top player in the Premier League for many years and we need that know-how.

“I think we need to strengthen in every position, but I have to believe in all the guys that are here.”

Vardy remains the talisman, but expecting him to play every game as Leicester’s only fit and recognised centre-forward is completely unrealistic, especially after he missed most of last season despite his incredible physical condition.

Centre forward Tom Cannon appears to be on the verge of a move and has barely played under Cooper so far.

It hasn’t been a disastrous start and there have been reasons for optimism, but this week the focus turns back to the transfer window and what kind of business can be done to give real hope that Leicester are well enough placed to have a chance of survival.

But what options are there?

The club have already had a bid for Panathinaikos striker Fotis Ioannidis rejected and could now pursue him again, but the forward will not come cheap. A deal could cost more than £25 million ($33 million) and they are not the only suitors considering the Greek international.

As the team discovered earlier in the transfer window with their interest in Argentine winger Matias Soule and more recently with their attempts to sign Adam Hlozek from Bayer Leverkusen, Leicester may no longer be the attraction they once were given the worrying prospect of a relegation battle and points deduction on the international stage.

Ultimately, money is what counts, but after the problems with the Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) in recent years, Leicester must be cautious. Ioannidis scored 23 goals in 44 games last season, including five in the Europa League, and provided nine assists, but the Premier League is still a big step up.

Leicester have also shown interest in Ajax striker Steven Bergwijn this summer. Ajax are said to be interested in selling him – the former Tottenham striker would be more of a playmaker than a line-leading player – but for a higher price.

Leicester look to be well-positioned in central defence if Conor Coady is fit. A player of Ricardo Pereira’s quality is not currently available at full-back, although the left-back position could certainly use some reinforcement. However, that is unlikely to be a priority in this transfer window.

In midfield, the arrival of Oliver Skipp has expanded Cooper’s options, with the possibility now that one of the other players in that position could leave the club.

If Leicester can pull a rabbit or two out of the hat to strengthen their attacking line before the deadline then they have a real chance. A big week lies ahead.

(Top photo: Alex Pantling/Getty Images)