Sheffield United hint at big Tom Cannon change for 2026/27 | OneFootball

It has been a frustrating spell at Sheffield United so far for Tom Cannon, but it seems he could have a big role to play next season.

It is a crucial summer for Sheffield United after a disappointing season in the Championship.

Chris Wilder led Sheffield United away from relegation danger after returning for a third spell in charge in September, but the expected play-off push failed to materialise, with an inconsistent second half of the season seeing the Blades finish 13th in the table.

Wilder warned that he would be making "a lot of changes" to his squad this summer, and there have been a number of high-profile departures so far, with Ben Mee, Tom Davies and Danny Ings being released at the end of their contracts, while Andre Brooks made the move to Norwich City in a deal that could be worth up to £10 million.

There has also been a surprise reshuffle of Wilder's backroom team, with his long-time assistant Alan Knill departing, along with first team coach Guilherme Ramos, and former Manchester United defender Phil Jones arriving after a short spell as a coach at Blackburn Rovers.

While United are yet to make any new additions this summer, it is likely there will be plenty of incomings at Bramall Lane over the coming weeks, but their opening pre-season friendly provided a hint that one of their existing players could be set for an increased role.

Tom Cannon could be set for major Sheffield United change as hint dropped

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It has been a frustrating spell at Sheffield United for striker Tom Cannon since his move from Leicester City for a fee of around £10 million in January 2025.

The Blades signed Cannon off the back of a productive loan spell at Stoke City in the first half of the 2024-25 season, during which he scored 11 goals in 25 appearances, and they had to fight off strong competition to land his signature, with Wilder claiming that "99 per cent of the Championship wanted him at the time".

However, Cannon has failed to live up to expectations during his time at Bramall Lane, scoring just seven goals and providing three assists in 54 appearances so far, and he struggled to nail down a place in the team last season, with only 20 of his 37 appearances coming from the start.

After a difficult first 18 months with United, Cannon will be hoping to make a fresh start in the upcoming campaign, and he made a strong start to pre-season as he got on the scoresheet in his side's 3-1 win over National League side Halifax Town, with Tyrese Campbell and Gustavo Hamer netting the other two goals.

As well as his goal, the fact that Cannon was wearing number nine for the game at The Shay also caught the eye of Blades supporters, and with the prestigious shirt available after Ings' exit, it remains to be seen whether it will be a permanent change for the 23-year-old, who sported the number seven last season.

Tom Cannon facing crunch Sheffield United season after Bramall Lane frustration

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Wilder admitted in November that Cannon's move to Sheffield United had "not gone as well as he'd have wanted", and there is no doubt that the upcoming season will be make-or-break for his Bramall Lane career.

Cannon was far from the only player to underperform for the Blades last season, but he has struggled to repay his hefty price tag since his arrival 18 months ago, and Wilder will soon run out of patience if the goals do not come for the former Everton man.