The opening of the January transfer window will signal a scramble almost, but not quite, on par with the start of the Next sale on Boxing Day.

Since September 1, clubs have been restricted to bringing in loans and free agents, and even loan deals have been on hold for the past month.

The window reopens on January 2 and managers will be viewing this as a chance to turn seasons around, kick start a charge up the table or drag themselves out of danger.

Chester FC are no different and boss Steve Burr has made it clear he will be looking to freshen things up, although how much business he can do will depend on what room can be found in the playing budget and if funds can be freed up through outgoings.

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Where does Chester boss Steve Burr need to strengthen in the transfer window?

The manager will have his own thoughts of course but The Chronicle's Jim Green has put forward the three areas he'd like to see addressed in the next month:

Increasing defensive competition

The departures of Dale Tonge and Michael Kay mean the defence pretty much picks itself at present, which isn't an ideal position.

Ryan Higgins hasn't reproduced last term's form and his confidence has suffered as a result, but he's been left in firing line because there's no alternative. The same applies on the other side with Ben Gordon failing to make an impression, although Johnny Hunt has been one of the better performers.

Ryan Higgins has been a near ever present despite struggling for form
Ryan Higgins has been a near ever present despite struggling for form

Ben Heneghan made a slow start but has been excellent of late, whereas it's the opposite case for Ian Sharps who started well but has looked in need of a break in recent weeks.

The addition of a new defender who can not only provide cover but challenge for a starting spot will provide much needed competition and give the manager options, and the ideal recruit would be a centre-half who can operate as a full-back as well or vice versa.

Improving the balance in midfield

The biggest headache has been in midfield, which is strange because in pre-season it looked the strongest area of the squad.

Craig Mahon, John Rooney, Jordan Chapell, Luke George and Tom Shaw are good footballers and proven at this level. The manager has experimented with every possible combination but it hasn't clicked.

Chester started the season with George in a holding role with Rooney and Shaw ahead of him but when it became clear Ross Hannah was far more dangerous with someone alongside him, that created a conundrum that still needs to be solved.

John Rooney has found himself relegated to the substitutes bench in recent weeks
John Rooney has found himself relegated to the substitutes bench in recent weeks

Another concern has been on the left wing where Mahon has found himself for most of the campaign but he's much better on the right where he was so effective last season.

Ryan Lloyd has shown promise and could be the best option going forward on the left so the manager's priority will be finding someone to sort out the problems in the engine room.

Finding a partner for Ross Hannah

The big positive this season has been the form of Ross Hannah who has reinforced his reputation as one of the division's deadliest finishers.

He's a natural goalscorer and has shown over the past couple of months what a threat he can be when given reasonable service.

Without him the Blues would be far worse off and Burr will recognise the danger of being too reliant on the 29-year-old, who has netted 11 of the side's last 13 goals.

Ross Hannah has scored 15 goals in all competitions this season
Ross Hannah has scored 15 goals in all competitions this season

Chester need others to start chipping in too and while Danny Hattersley has been a decent foil, he's failed to register a goal in five games.

It would make the manager's life much easier if Hattersley or someone else went on a scoring run but he'll have started looking elsewhere.

The problem facing him is that strikers, particularly proven ones, don't come cheap so the loan market could again be his best hope, but as we've seen this season that's easier said than done.