Tom Cannon transfer news: Stoke City statement, Championship bids, Everton | OneFootball

The striker returned to Leicester City on Wednesday after spending the first half of the season on loan at the bet365 Stadium.

The saga surrounding Tom Cannon has heated up in recent days - with Burnley, Sheffield United and Sunderland among the EFL clubs keen.

The striker joined Stoke City on loan from Leicester City on deadline day in the summer transfer window, although plenty of Championship sides were pushing for a deal for the 22-year-old.

However, after just five months at the bet365 Stadium, he was recalled from the Potters with Mark Robins' new side sitting 19th in the table.

There is now an ensuing battle for Cannon, and Football League World has rounded up the latest news stories surrounding the forward.

Stoke City statement following Cannon's departure

Stoke were bitterly disappointed to lose the young striker after he scored nine goals in 22 games in the Championship.

Four of those strikes came in the same game back in October as Portsmouth were put to the sword in Staffordshire in a 6-1 defeat. They were his first goals in red-and-white, but he was often left isolated up front by himself, and it seemed unlikely that the Potters were going to be able to keep hold of him.

Cannon has enjoyed his best season in front of goal, leading to the interest in him, and his now former club released a statement on Sunday following his departure back to Leicester on Stoke's website.

It read: "Tom Cannon has been recalled from his loan spell at Stoke City by parent club Leicester City.

"The Republic of Ireland international scored 11 times for the Potters in 25 appearances in all competitions after arriving on the final day of the summer transfer window.

"Tom has our thanks for his commitment to the Stoke City cause during his loan spell with the Club. We wish him well for the future."

Championship clubs table bids for Cannon

Leicester had to recall Cannon by midnight on Wednesday or he would have stayed with Stoke for the rest of the season, and to help force them into a decision, both Sheffield United and Sunderland tabled bids.

The Blades originally offered the Premier League side £7m, as they look to improve their forward line in the battle for promotion.

Just a few hours later, Alan Nixon reported via Patreon that Sunderland had come in with a bid of their own for £13m, which will be paid to Leicester if the Black Cats go up to the Premier League.

However, Sheffield United upped their offer later on Wednesday, and they will pay Leicester £10m up front with £3m coming in add-ons in a permanent deal that will start this month if it is accepted.

Meanwhile, Burnley have placed a bid of £10m to the Foxes in an effort to beat their promotion rivals to the 22-year-old and bring him to Turf Moor, according to Sami Mokbel, but there have been conflicting reports about the Clarets' interest.

Everton reportedly join the race for Cannon

GiveMeSport have stated that Everton are in talks with Leicester about bringing Cannon back to Goodison Park, just a year-and-a-half after leaving Merseyside.

The striker came through the ranks at the Toffees, but limited opportunities in the first team saw him move to the East Midlands in September 2023.

However, with David Moyes now back at the helm and the team struggling towards the bottom of the Championship, improvements are needed to take them away from the relegation battle.

Mokbel has named both Everton and Burnley as interested parties as well but Nixon has claimed that the pair are not involved in the battle for Cannon this January. This will clear the way for Sheffield United and

Sunderland to battle against each other directly for his services, and this will have a huge impact on the fight for promotion in the Championship.