Everton: Francis Okoronkwo sends message to Tom Cannon after confirmed transfer news
Everton academy product Francis Okoronkwo sent a social media message to former Toffee Tom Cannon after he completed his move to Leicester City on transfer deadline day.
The Foxes confirmed (1 September) the signing of the former Goodison Park academy product in a deal worth around £7.5m as Cannon ended his eleven-year association with Everton.
Cannon joined a whole host of Everton departures on Friday 1 September with Alex Iwobi, Neal Maupay, and Jean-Philippe Gbamin all seeking pastures new before the 11pm transfer deadline.
After completing his move, Cannon took to Instagram (1 September) to put himself in his new Leicester City colours, for which Everton academy wonder Okoronkwo responded with a message to wish him luck on his new venture.
He said: “What a player! All the best fella go smash it.”
Fill his shoes
The Toffees will be raking in £7.5million for the 20-year-old which is decent money as he’s unlikely to be a first-team regular any time soon.
Cannon may go on to become a Premier League-level striker but that won’t happen for another season yet as he looks to impress once again in the Championship with a team expected to secure their English top-flight return next season.
In fact, the Foxes is a super move for Cannon as he looks set to be guaranteed the game-time he craves at the King Power under a manager in Enzo Maresca who plays expansive and progressive football which could suit him down to a tee.
To be honest, Cannon could well have made the grade at Goodison Park had Everton placed more trust in him but this move could end up being a tremendous one for his long-term development, but his departure certainly leaves a big hole in the Goodison Park academy alumni.
And Okoronkwo will be hoping that sooner rather than later, he will be handed the first team opportunities Cannon was hardly given at Goodison Park. The Everton youngster is highly rated and regarded amongst the under-21 setup, and it won’t be a surprise to see him given an opportunity under Sean Dyche this season.
In other Everton news, the Toffees made a last-gasp mega bid to sign one former Premier League winger on transfer deadline day and received a swift response to the ambitious offer.