Tom Cannon could save Everton and Farhad Moshiri millions after goalscoring streak at Preston
Everton loanee Tom Cannon has proven that he could save Farhad Moshiri millions in the long run after leaving a goalscoring trail in his wake at Preston North End.
The 20-year-old academy product has moved from strength to strength since sealing his loan move to Deepdale in January, netting his sixth goal in as many games in the Lilywhites’ 2-1 win over Reading on Monday (10 April).
The Championship is notoriously an extremely hard division to crack for young players who have just graduated from Premier League academies, so Cannon’s superb form adds yet more evidence to the fact the he could be Everton’s long-term number nine.
Although the January transfer window was a disastrous one for the Toffees, they have been proven right in their decision to loan out Cannon to the Championship and not keep him warming the bench at Goodison Park.
There are certainly no guarantees that the Republic of Ireland Under-21 international could crack Premier League football next season – as proven by Ellis Simms’ struggles since cutting his loan at Sunderland short in January – but Cannon’s form bodes well for the future.
Some of the Premier League’s most lucrative players have spent time plying their trade in the Championship in the early stages of their careers, with the likes of Jack Grealish, Mason Mount, James Maddison and Harvey Barnes all shining in England’s second division.
With Grealish joining Manchester City for a whopping £100million, and Mount and Maddison in contention to secure marquee moves this summer, it is evidence that nurturing young talents such as Cannon can reap its rewards.
With Neal Maupay looking like he is on his way out of Goodison Park and few other alternatives available to Sean Dyche, Cannon will be aiming for a first-team spot next season.
Considering Moshiri may not have the deepest pockets in the summer transfer window, following the investigation into a breach of FFP and the club’s struggles to fund the Bramley-Moore Dock Stadium, the 20-year-old could be the Everton owner’s saving grace.