Leicester to resist loan transfer offers for £7.5m out-of favour striker labelled ‘top player’ by Maresca

LEICESTER plan to keep striker Tom Cannon despite a handful of clubs wanting him on loan.

Cannon, 20, has struggled to make an impact since his big-money move from Everton after a back injury emerged.

The Foxes insist fit-again frontman Tom Cannon won’t be departing in JanuaryGetty

But Foxes’ boss Enzo Maresca still believes the “top player” can justify his £7.5million summer arrival on a five-year contract.

Luton and Sunderland were said to be keen on the Republic of Ireland Under-21 star last summer.

That followed his encouraging season on loan at Preston last term.

Cannon scored eight goals in 20 matches for the Championship side.

And ahead of that temporary switch he netted 12 times in 16 games for the Toffees’ U-21s.

Leicester won the race for Cannon on transfer deadline day in September this year.

But a back problem was revealed during his medical.

And the Merseysider only made his debut this month.

However, Maresca is confident the starlet will still come good for his Championship leaders.

The Italian said earlier in December: “He’s the youngest of the strikers we have, so for sure (he’s going to bring) energy. 

“But not only energy. First of all, he scores goals. Last year, in six months, he scored eight goals. 

“The problem now with Tom is very easy.

“It’s the physical condition, and then it’s that we have strikers already there, so he needs to compete with them.”