Four Championship clubs are eyeing a loan-to-buy deal for Leicester City striker Tom Cannon as a reported deadline over a break clause fast approaches.

Sunderland, Sheffield United, Sheffield Wednesday and Luton are, according to the Sun’s Alan Nixon, considering a move for the Republic of Ireland international. It’s said that there is a break clause in his loan contract with the Potters that would allow for another club to swoop in, but that option is only available until Wednesday.

Cannon netted from the penalty spot in Stoke’s 2-1 extra-time win over Sunderland in the FA Cup on Saturday for his 11th goal in all competitions. The 22-year-old has attracted interest throughout the campaign and City are open to a permanent sale at the right price. They signed the striker from Everton in a £7.5m switch 18 months ago.

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Promotion contenders Sunderland and Sheffield United are in the best positions to be able to offer the loan-to-buy deal to City, but the Blades are still weighing up their options. It’s said that the priority for their manager Chris Wilder is to bring Oli McBurnie back to the club from Spanish side Las Palmas.

City have been linked to strikers themselves this window, most notably Brighton’s Evan Ferguson, but it is not one of their priorities right now. With Jamie Vardy the main man and Patson Daka his deputy, Odsonne Edouard is not even making the bench, and so a recall for Cannon is out of the question unless it’s to negotiate a new club for him.

Cannon’s penalty against Sunderland on Saturday was his first goal under Mark Robins. The former Coventry boss was appointed on New Year’s Day and is Stoke’s third permanent manager of the season.

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