Sheffield United facing ‘really tough’ transfer call on £10m player | OneFootball

Sheffield United are set for a big overhaul this summer, with Tom Cannon among those facing an uncertain future.

Chris Wilder has made no secret of the fact that a very busy summer awaits Sheffield United as he looks to build a squad that can challenge for promotion next season.

The boyhood fan returned to Bramall Lane for a third time in September, inheriting a team in the relegation zone after a disastrous start under Ruben Selles.

Whilst Wilder’s return ensured they didn’t ever have to really worry about dropping to League One, they have struggled for consistency, particularly in the past few months.

Another year outside the top flight will bring financial challenges for Sheffield United, and Wilder has admitted key players could depart for the right price in order to help fund what is set to be a major rebuild.

Tom Cannon has struggled to find his best form for Sheffield United

So, there are doubts over much of the squad going into the summer window, and one player who faces an uncertain future is Tom Cannon.

The Blades spent £10m to sign the striker from Leicester City in January 2025, which looked like a smart bit of business considering his form on loan at Stoke in the first half of that campaign.

However, he hasn’t been able to replicate that in Yorkshire, with Cannon finding the net just once in his first 17 games for Sheffield United. Those struggles have continued this season, as the Ireland international has scored only five league goals, so he hasn’t yet got near justifying his price tag, and he hasn’t nailed down a place in the XI.

Therefore, an exit could suit all parties, but it’s obviously unlikely they will receive offers close to what they paid for Cannon.

So, when FLW asked Sheffield United fan pundit Jimmy from the Blades Ramble podcast what the future holds for the player, he explained that Cannon is someone who divides opinion, as he suggested a loan move could be ideal for the 23-year-old’s development, with Leicester seen as a potential option because they may be willing to send players in the opposite direction.

“It’s a really tough one. I’ve got more patience with him than some Blades fans I know. I think there’s a player in there, but it hasn’t quite worked out for him at Sheffield United yet.

“I know a lot of Blades wouldn’t be unhappy to see him moved on, but, as Wilder keeps going back to, it’s got to be for the right price and the right circumstances.

“Now that Leicester have gone down, is there a deal to be done with any of their players that we might fancy? Hamza Choudhury has been here before, Harry Souttar has been here before. Could Cannon be a makeweight in either of those deals, either as a season-long loan to get some value back into him, and to help Leicester, or even a permanent deal, although he will be on big wages.

“So, there are discussions to be had. I would like to keep him, but maybe he does need a loan. He is on a long contract at Sheffield United, and he needs a regular run of games to get some confidence back, but I don’t think he will get that in front of Patrick Bamford.”

Sheffield United must get their summer business right

As outlined above, Wilder is going to make substantial changes to the squad, and it appears he won’t be operating with the biggest budget, so sales are necessary.

Cannon wouldn’t fetch a significant fee, so there will be some that feel he should stick around because of that. Despite his struggles, you do sometimes forget how young he is, and if he can rediscover his best form, he has shown he can score goals at this level.

But, Bamford has established himself as the main man, and you would imagine Wilder still wants another number nine, so it is hard to see where he fits in.

Using him as a makeweight could be an option, and the priority should be Cannon’s career next season, as he does need a run of games to show what he can do, so if that won’t happen at Bramall Lane, a move would benefit the player.

Ultimately, he is one of many Sheffield United players who face an uncertain summer, and it will be interesting to see what the squad looks like when the new season comes around in August.