Leeds United look set to miss out on a deal for Everton’s in-demand striker Tom Cannon, with the 20-year-old set to join Preston North End on loan this week.
The Whites were among a host of clubs, including Championship rivals Sunderland, to be credited with interest in the youngster, as Daniel Farke looks to address his side’s goalscoring issues.
However, Alan Nixon reported this weekend that while Preston have been given the green light to complete a loan move for Cannon, Italian side Sampdoria could still make a late £8m bid for a permanent deal.
Cannon was an unused substitute as Everton got their Premier League campaign under way with a 1-0 home defeat to Fulham on Saturday, but is expected to spend the season away from Goodison Park.
Leeds have been monitoring his situation, along with Stoke City and Sunderland, and it appears his future will be decided this week. The Whites are in desperate need of more attacking options, with Patrick Bamford ruled out injured, and Willy Gnonto at loggerheads with the club over his future.
They failed to find the net in Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Birmingham City and face a tough challenge against promotion rivals West Bromwich Albion on Friday night,
Georginio Rutter returned from injury to make a second-half appearance from the bench at St Andrews, replacing young striker Joel Gelhardt, who got the nod up front in Gnonto’s absence.