Yahoo News Stoke City edging closer to Tom Cannon transfer deadline day coup
Stoke City are not taking anything for granted as they try to close a deadline day deal for Tom Cannon - but it is now expected to happen.
Stoke have muscled to the front of a summer-long chase that has involved half of the Championship, all hoping to get Leicester striker Cannon on either a permanent or loan deal.
Jon Walters and Steven Schumacher have been keen to bring in a quick centre-forward to complement the attack they already have in the building, including star men Bae Junho and Million Manhoef, new loan boy Lewis Koumas, summer signing Sam Gallagher and Ryan Mmaee, who is trying to prove himself a year after joining.
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Leicester have been reluctant to sanction an exit until they get their own forward department in place but it has always been part of the plan that Cannon would be let out in the end. Cannon has now hot-footed it across the Midlands for a medical to complete his switch.
Cannon would join a growing group of Republic of Ireland prospects, with Bosun Lawal and Andrew Moran having already joined in the last few weeks. He grew up in Liverpool and came through the ranks at Everton, like Schumacher, who started his coaching career in the Everton academy too.
Cannon got his first proper taste of senior football on loan at Preston North End in 2023, playing under Schumacher's best friend Ryan Lowe and scoring eight times in 20 appearances.
“He’s a fantastic talent, he’s a finisher," said Lowe during that time at Deepdale. “He’s definitely got the world at his feet, just because of his pace and power, we’re working on him on some stuff like retaining the ball and linking up a little bit better, but he’s definitely got a big future."
Cannon joined Leicester for a reported fee that could rise up to £7.5m after his Preston spell but injury delayed his debut until December and he made 16 appearances in all as they went up to the Premier League as champions.
