Chris Wilder has made no secret of Sheffield United’s busy summer ahead, as he wants to assemble a side capable of challenging for promotion next season.

The boyhood supporter returned to Bramall Lane for the third time in September, inheriting a relegation-threatened squad following a dismal start under Ruben Selles.

While Wilder’s return guaranteed they never had to worry about relegation to League One, they have struggled for consistency, especially in recent months.

Another year outside the top flight will provide financial issues for Sheffield United, and Wilder has admitted that important players may leave for the appropriate price to help bankroll what is expected to be a significant rebuild.

Tom Cannon has failed to recapture his best form at Sheffield United.

So, there are questions about much of the squad heading into the summer window, and Tom Cannon is one player whose future is unknown.

The Blades paid £10 million to sign the striker from Leicester City in January 2025, which seemed like a wise decision given his form on loan at Stoke in the first half of that season.

Cannon hasn’t been able to reproduce that in Yorkshire, scoring only once in his first 17 outings for Sheffield United. Those troubles have continued this season, with the Ireland international scoring only five league goals, leaving him far from justifying his price tag and unable to secure a spot in the starting lineup.

As a result, an exit could benefit all parties, but it is unlikely that they will receive bids comparable to what they spent for Cannon.

So, when FLW asked Sheffield United fan pundit Jimmy from the Blades Ramble podcast about the player’s future, he explained that Cannon is someone who divides opinion, as he suggested that a loan move could be ideal for the 23-year-old’s development, with Leicester being a potential option because they may be willing to send players in the opposite direction.

“It’s a tricky one. I’m more patient with him than some of the Blades supporters I know. I believe there is a player in there, but it hasn’t worked out for him at Sheffield United yet.

“I know a lot of Blades wouldn’t mind seeing him go, but as Wilder keeps saying, it has to be for the right price and under the right circumstances.

“Now that Leicester have been relegated, is there a deal that can be made with any of their players that we could be interested in? Harry Souttar and Hamza Choudhury have both been here before. Could Cannon be a makeweight in either of those transactions, either as a season-long loan to recoup his value and aid Leicester, or as a permanent deal, although with high wages?

“There are discussions to be had. I’d like to keep him, but he may require a loan. He has a long contract with Sheffield United, and he needs a regular run of games to regain confidence, but I don’t think he’ll receive it in front of Patrick Bamford.”

Sheffield United must handle their summer business properly.

As previously said, Wilder intends to make significant changes to the squad, and it looks that he will not have the largest budget, necessitating sales.

Cannon would not command a high fee, so some may argue that he should stay. Despite his troubles, it’s easy to forget how young he is, and if he can recover his best form, he’s proven he can score goals at this level.

However, Bamford has established himself as the main man, and Wilder is likely to want another number nine, so it is unclear where he fits in.

Using him as a makeweight might be an option, and the priority should be Cannon’s career next season, as he requires a run of games to demonstrate his abilities, thus a move would benefit the player.

Finally, he is one of many Sheffield United players facing an uncertain summer, and it will be intriguing to see what the team looks like when the new season begins in August.