Sheffield Wednesday are boldly throwing their hat into the ring for the red-hot striker Tom Cannon, as they vie to secure his signature amidst a fierce tug-of-war with Championship rivals. The Owls are reportedly plotting their move in case Cannon’s parent club, Leicester City, recalls him from his current loan spell with Stoke City—a potential blockbuster move that could reshape the second half of the season.
Alan Nixon dropped the bombshell on Sunday, revealing that not only Wednesday but also high-flying Luton Town are hot on the heels of the prolific 22-year-old forward. The stakes couldn’t be higher, as even Sheffield Wednesday’s fiercest adversaries, Steel City rivals Sheffield United, have reportedly entered the fray, according to Darren Witcoop. This sets the stage for a fiery, all-Sheffield showdown for Cannon’s services.
The Owls’ Striker Crisis
Sheffield Wednesday’s goal drought has been the stuff of nightmares, with the club’s strikers barely registering on the scoresheet this season. Patrick McKenna, a passionate Owls pundit, didn’t mince words when Football League World asked about Cannon’s potential arrival. “Our strikers haven’t been prolific, and another forward could be a lifeline,” McKenna admitted, likening Cannon’s potential impact to last season’s crucial addition of Ike Ugbo—who, despite current struggles, provided key goals during a tight relegation battle.
Yet McKenna didn’t shy away from highlighting the elephant in the room: the Owls’ leaky defence. “The backline needs urgent surgery, but adding Cannon’s proven Championship goal-scoring pedigree could still tip the scales in our favor.”
Ownership Drama: A Transfer Saga
While Cannon’s name might light up the terraces, McKenna expressed deep skepticism about Wednesday’s ability to get the deal done, citing the club’s ongoing struggles with owner Dejphon Chansiri. “Rohl is frustrated with the lack of communication and direction from Chansiri,” McKenna said. “Without clarity on budgets, Rohl is left grasping at straws. Right now, I fear a signing like Cannon is nothing more than a pipe dream.”
The Owls’ transfer woes are compounded by Chansiri’s historically conservative spending in January. Between 2021 and 2023, Wednesday managed just six winter signings, with last season’s loan spree being an outlier rather than the norm. With no looming relegation threat this season, McKenna worries that Chansiri may sit on his hands, leaving Rohl and the fans in limbo.
Cannon: The Game-Changer
If Wednesday can pull off the impossible and land Cannon, it could be a transformative coup. The young striker has lit up the Championship this season, netting nine goals in 22 appearances for Stoke City. In stark contrast, Wednesday’s main forward, Ugbo, has gone 24 games without finding the back of the net and even missed a penalty in a nail-biting 2-2 draw with Millwall.
Adding Cannon to the squad could inject much-needed firepower into Wednesday’s attack, revitalizing their play-off ambitions and sparking hope among the fanbase. But with January ticking away and Chansiri’s financial leash tightening, the Owls face an uphill battle to bring in their dream addition.
For now, Sheffield Wednesday’s fans must wait with bated breath, hoping that their club can rise above its challenges and swoop for the striker who could finally solve their goal-scoring woes.
