George Overhill

Tue 11 July 2023 13:10, UK

Tom Cannon has been the subject of transfer talks between Everton and Preston North End on “at least two occasions” this summer, according to the Liverpool Echo.

The young forward’s future is in the spotlight during the transfer window and he has been linked with moves to multiple interested clubs, including PNE where he had a successful spell on loan last season.

He is reportedly “not on the radar” of newly-promoted Luton Town, but was discussed at Sunderland after they missed out on bringing back former fellow Toffees striker Ellis Simms, who has now moved to Coventry City.

The Black Cats held internal talks about switching their focus to Cannon, 20, but according to the Echo they concluded that a move for the Everton man didn’t fit into their pay structure and they would be unable to finance a permanent signing.

It does appear however that Preston North End remain interested after multiple meetings between the two clubs about a deal that would take Cannon back to Deepdale, after he scored eight Championship goals last term, with the second tier side interested in either a loan or a permanent move.

Wanted

If Sunderland feel like they can’t afford Cannon then there is a fair chance that the same will prove to be the case for PNE.

And letting the 20-year-old go for any reason other than to boost the transfer budget feels reckless as this stage, with the attacking options dwindling.

Should two or three replacements be sourced during the transfer window then there would perhaps be scope to let him leave on another loan later in the summer.

But unless or until Sean Dyche and Kevin Thelwell can bring in other options they would surely be better off keeping Cannon in the fold as the prospective second or third striking option.

Simms seemed in line to play that role next season with the benefit of a full preseason under the Everton boss, after a reasonable showing in the second half of the previous campaign.

But he has been sent packing to the Sky Blues after one senior goal, for just a modest up-front fee of £3.5million [i News, 8 July], so clearly Dyche didn’t feel the potential was there to be a major Toffees contributor.

Simms’ own Championship scoring record in the first half of last season was similar to Cannon’s in the second, so if the manager doesn’t expect it to translate into goals for Everton he would logically let him go too.

But with Dominic Calvert-Lewin so often removed from contention by injury and Neal Maupay’s form as a Toffee poor the position badly needs adding to, whether it be Rodrigo, El Bilal Toure, or others.

In other Everton news, the club have made an approach to sign another defender with Ashley Young now on the way in.