Leicester City and Blackburn Rovers may both smile looking back at their wildly contrasting campaigns now that the 2023–24 Championship campaign is completed.
Naturally, Leicester won the division; after overcoming a setback in the latter part of the season, they went on to win the title and promotion with relative ease.
While Blackburn finished a miserable 19th, they were able to avoid relegation under John Eustace’s leadership, and now they can look forward to a full, new season under the 44-year-old.
While both teams will now be getting ready for their individual seasons in 2024–2025, there has been talk since early summer that the two parties may shortly get down to negotiate.
Tom Cannon connected to Leicester to move to Blackburn
According to Alan Nixon via Patreon, for example, Blackburn hold an interest in Leicester City striker Tom Cannon ahead of next season.
Nixon’s report reveals that Rovers, along with fellow Championship side Preston North End, are keen to bring Cannon back on loan to the second tier for 2024/25.
Nixon claims that the Foxes now face a major decision on Cannon’s future, with their multi-million pound man having been injured and/or overlooked during his first campaign at the King Power Stadium.
Leicester City should sanction Tom Cannon loan
It should not be too tough of a decision for Leicester, though, given Cannon’s record this season.
As discussed, he did suffer with injury at the start of the season, but even when he regained fitness and got himself back in the squad, others were preferred.
Cannon featured in four Championship matchday squads before even being called off the bench, for example, and he would not make his first league start for the club until January, despite being fit from early November onwards.
| Tom Cannon’s senior career so far, according to Transfermarkt | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Years | Club | Appearances | Goals | Assists |
| 2021 – 2923 | Everton | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | Preston North End | 21 | 8 | 1 |
| 2023 – present | Leicester City | 16 | 3 | 2 |
Another injury towards the end of the season only hampered Cannon’s progress further, and so the exciting young forward finished the season having played just 13 Championship matches, with just three of those coming from the start.
With Leicester now promoted to the Premier League, it seems highly unlikely that Cannon, even if he can remain completely fit, will suddenly become a regular starter under Maresca.
The Premier League is a step-up in quality, and if Maresca did not select him often in the Championship, there is not much to suggest he will do so in the top-flight, with the club’s Premier League status on the line. Furthermore, despite their off-field financial issues, Leicester will likely target additions to strengthen their squad this summer, which could potentially see Cannon edged out further.
Considering the above, a loan to the Championship for regular minutes next season would allow Cannon to continue to develop and grow as a player, and crucially, from Leicester’s perspective, protect their investment.
Blackburn could be a good spot for Cannon
With Blackburn’s current situation this summer, the club might be a decent place for that loan to end up.
Sammie Szmodics has had an incredible season at Ewood Park, winning the division’s golden boot, scoring 27 goals in 44 Championship games, and assisting Blackburn in staying narrowly above the relegation zone.
But because of his performances, other teams are naturally taking notice, and Brentford and Fulham are rumoured to be interested in signing the 28-year-old.
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