Stoke City completed the signing of Leicester City striker Tom Cannon on a season-long loan deal on deadline day.
The Potters managed to fend off interest from many other Championship clubs to land the signing of Cannon, who is now set for another season in the second tier of English football.
The ex-Everton youth product spent the 2022/23 season on loan at Preston North End, where he netted eight goals and provided one assist in 21 appearances at Deepdale. The following season he left Goodison Park permanently, moving to recently relegated Leicester for a hefty price tag of £7 million. An injury-riddled campaign last season left the 21-year-old with little game time as the Foxes won promotion back up to the Premier League. However, Cannon did contribute to their successful season, scoring three goals and assisting a further two in just 16 appearances in all competitions.
Last starting a professional game in February, Cannon has been given the number nine jersey by Stoke as he prepares to kick off the 2024/25 campaign on a personal note.
The Potters have had a decent start to the season under Steven Schumacher, securing two wins and two losses in their first four games. Including Cannon, 10 new players have come through the door at the Bet 365 Stadium this summer.
Speaking to Stoke-on-Trent Live, Cannon opened up on his challenging window personally
“I suppose it’s been hard. Obviously, as a player you want to be playing so when you’re not, it’s difficult but it’s how you balance it. I’ve been going into training every day and giving it my all. For whatever reason I haven’t had the minutes but when I have played I think I’ve done well. Hopefully, I can take that over here now and hit the ground running. There’s no better feeling in football, especially as a striker, to be scoring goals so hopefully I can get back to that as soon as possible.”
Speaking on signing for the club, the 21-year-old stated
“From speaking to the manager, he’s done a fantastic job to evolve the group. I saw a stat the other day that it was the youngest team in the Championship and as a young player coming in that’s very good and I’m sure the manager can bring the best out of me.
“I can’t wait. Coming in with the international break it’s good timing as a chance to get to know the lads and staff, and properly settle in. Now I’m in and training every day I can’t wait to get going. But I’d rather there be a game this weekend because I’m itching to get going.”
Writer’s View
For Cannon, this is the third time in three seasons that he has moved clubs in the summer transfer window. However, this time, it was a last-minute move, with the player moving on deadline day. It is no secret there were a lot of clubs interested in the Irishman’s services, so it must have been frustrating for the player to be hearing about all this interest with none of it materialising. Obviously, the player did get his move eventually, but getting a move so late in the window does affect a player and how he settles in.
For Stoke, beating off several rival clubs to secure the signing of Cannon is an impressive feat. His goalscoring record speaks for itself, and the Potters will be hoping to get him firing on all cylinders as soon as possible.
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