Transfer rumors started circulating shortly after Leicester City won the Championship trophy; Tom Cannon was allegedly being considered for loan by Preston and Blackburn, their opponents on the final day. With his future expected to be decided near the end of the transfer window, contingent on previous movements, the 21-year-old striker is set for an exciting summer.
Cannon has proven that, in addition to being a gifted attacker at the moment, he also has a great deal of growing potential. Cannon showed off his strength, quickness, goal-scoring instinct, and clean striking ability when given the chance, even if Leicester City’s other forwards were better and more experienced. Fans have been particularly drawn to the latter quality, which has raised hopes for his future
Tom Cannon demonstrated his ability to strike the ball cleanly and decisively in his debut goal for the team earlier this year against Huddersfield. With such accuracy, the goal—a snap shot from the edge of the box—was quickly put in the back of the net. The City faithful were enthused by this occasion and demanded that Cannon play more for the balance of the season. But by the end of January, Jamie Vardy had recovered from his injury and Leicester City had welcomed back Patson Daka from the Africa Cup of Nations. Cannon was utilized infrequently, despite opportunities presented by conflicts among those above him in the hierarchy. Not only that, but he failed to make the bench for the final game of the season. Cannon is a talented player, and Leicester City has to make sure he gets the chance to reach his full potential. The subsequent phases of his growth, meanwhile, will be contingent upon what happens to the team’s other strikers.
Jamie Vardy, Patson Daka, and Tom Cannon would be Leicester City’s three remaining strikers if Kelechi Iheanacho signals his exit and if Vardy signs a new deal. The question of whether this striking force is adequate for the Premier League now rests with the club. If not, Leicester City needs to evaluate how much financial room they have to perhaps add a new striker.
It would seem logical to send Cannon out on loan if a new forward were to be acquired. A season-long loan in the Championship would be a good fit for the 21-year-old, given manager Maresca has already said that managing four strikers is difficult.
Sending Cannon on loan would provide him the opportunity to hone his skills and gain experience playing a complete season of football. This would better prepare him for a possible position in the Premier League the following year, especially if he needed to replace Jamie Vardy. Leicester City has long debated whether or not to sign a player to truly replace Vardy, and thus far, no one seems to be close to doing so. But preliminary indications point to Cannon as a possible bright spot for this position.
Tom Cannon could make a little progress if he stays at Leicester City as the third-choice striker and only sees little playing time. It could be advantageous for his growth to have the chance to play under Maresca and put himself to the test against elite defenders. That would not be as advantageous, though, as a complete season of consistent playing time in the Championship.
For the upcoming campaign, Vardy, Daka, and Cannon as a three-man strikeforce would be a good choice if Cannon is judged ready to step up when called upon. That will depend, though, on how the team evaluates Cannon’s preparedness and whether they think he can make a meaningful contribution at the Premier League level.
