According to a recent reveal from The Sun’s Alan Nixon via Patreon, three Championship clubs are keen to sign Tom Cannon.
Cannon has struggled to make an impact in Leicester City’s first team since joining from Everton the previous summer.
The 21-year-old striker made only 12 Championship appearances last season under Enzo Maresca, as Leicester clinched the league title. Despite limited game time, Cannon averaged 0.43 goals per 90 minutes, showcasing his potential.
However, he was behind Patson Daka and Jamie Vardy in the pecking order.
While Maresca has since moved to Chelsea, the acquisition of versatile attacker Bobby Decordova-Reid from Fulham could complicate Cannon’s situation under the new manager, Steve Cooper.
Sheffield United, West Bromwich Albion, and Stoke City are reportedly in a transfer tug-of-war for Cannon. Nixon claims that Cooper, the former Swansea City boss, has not yet decided Cannon’s immediate future, which keeps the trio of second-tier suitors on high alert.
Chris Wilder, Sheffield United’s manager, is said to admire Cannon and is looking for additional striking options following Oli McBurnie’s free transfer to LaLiga’s Las Palmas. Wilder has already signed Bournemouth’s Kieffer Moore but remains in the market for more firepower.
West Bromwich Albion is also interested in Cannon, with manager Carlos Corberan aiming to strengthen his attack after making several defensive signings, including Torbjorn Heggem, Ousmane Diakite, Paddy McNair, and goalkeeper Joe Wildsmith from Derby County. Stoke City, meanwhile, might lead the race for Cannon if they can cover most of his salary.
However, their pursuit of Cannon is linked to their ongoing interest in Blackburn Rovers’ Sam Gallagher, for whom Blackburn has set a £1.5 million asking price after rejecting two bids from Stoke.
Leicester City will likely prefer to loan Cannon to a team aiming for promotion and playing a style that suits his development.
Among the interested clubs, Sheffield United seems well-placed for promotion, having just been relegated from the Premier League.
They have made notable signings like Callum O’Hare, Moore, and Peterborough United’s Harrison Burrows, who assisted 17 goals last season. These signings could create numerous scoring opportunities for Cannon.
However, competition for first-team minutes at Sheffield United could be tough for Cannon, given the presence of seasoned veteran Moore, who has experience achieving promotion with Bournemouth and has international credentials.
Additionally, Wilder has favored a lone striker formation in pre-season, which might limit Cannon’s playing time.
On the other hand, West Bromwich Albion, under Corberan, often dominate possession and create many scoring chances, ranking eighth for big chances created last season, ahead of Stoke City.
Cannon might have a better chance of securing regular playing time at West Brom, especially with the potential departure of Brandon Thomas-Asante and the injury of Daryl Dike.
In conclusion, Tom Cannon’s future remains uncertain, but he has several promising options in the Championship.
Sheffield United, West Bromwich Albion, and Stoke City are all vying for his services, and each offers unique opportunities and challenges for the young striker.
