Sunderland are not messing about in the transfer market this month, but their pursuit of Tom Cannon could come to an unhappy ending after Sheffield United’s latest act in the battle.
After the signing of Enzo Le Fee last week, it seems Sunderland have well and truly turned their attention to bringing in a new striker for Regis Le Bris.
Adding more goals to the team is an obvious priority for Sunderland now, and by all accounts, Tom Cannon is the man they are targeting.
With Leicester deciding to recall Cannon on Wednesday morning, and Sunderland making a big offer for the striker, you’d be forgiven for thinking the stars were aligned for the Black Cats, but there has been a new twist.
Sheffield United have matched Sunderland’s £13m offer and Tom Cannon must now decide
The latest on the intense transfer battle comes from Alan Nixon on Patreon, who claims Sheffield United have now matched Sunderland’s £13m offer, and may be able to steal his signature with the decision now falling on the player himself.
Nixon says the two Championship clubs are “willing to pay a guaranteed £10 million plus £3 million in extras” for Cannon, with Sheffield United “forced to act fast” after Sunderland had their offer accepted.
Leicester look set to give the green light to both proposals and let Cannon choose his next destination based on the packages he is presented. It is thought the Blades can give the 22-year-old a “lucrative contract” with a higher salary than Sunderland are expected to be able to offer.
Apparently, the deal has now developed into a straight purchase rather than the loan-to-buy angle that was initially mooted.
However, Nixon warns that, given how this transfer saga has played out so far, we should not be surprised to see further “developments and twists” before the weekend.
Will Tom Cannon be decisive in the title race?
One would assume that, given Sheffield United’s strength across the pitch already and their main weakness, if you like, being the lack of a truly clinical forward, adding Tom Cannon to the mix would be the nudge they need to secure promotion this year.
For Sunderland, however, it’s a slightly different story. Both Wilson Isidor and Eliezer Mayenda have been on fire lately, and the Black Cats are not exactly starved for goals from midfield, either.
| Position | Team | Played MP | Won W | Drawn D | Lost L | For GF | Against GA | Diff GD | Points Pts |
| 1 |  LeedsLeeds | 26 | 15 | 8 | 3 | 48 | 19 | 29 | 53 |
| 2 |  BurnleyBurnley | 26 | 14 | 10 | 2 | 31 | 9 | 22 | 52 |
| 3 |  Sheff UtdSheffield Utd | 26 | 16 | 6 | 4 | 36 | 17 | 19 | 52 |
| 4 |  SunderlandSunderland | 26 | 14 | 8 | 4 | 39 | 22 | 17 | 50 |
| 5 |  MiddlesbroughMiddlesbrough | 26 | 11 | 8 | 7 | 43 | 32 | 11 | 41 |
| 6 |  West BromWest Brom | 26 | 9 | 13 | 4 | 32 | 21 | 11 | 40 |
Cannon would have to fight for his place at Sunderland, but given the size of the offer the club has made for him, they clearly think that competition for a starting spot can benefit everyone.
Sunderland are the underdogs in the four-horse race for promotion, but improving their strength in depth in attack could well be the final piece of the puzzle for Le Bris. Whether Cannon will be that piece, however, remains to be seen.