Sunderland brace for Ross Stewart bids as Rangers line up summer swoop
Sunderland are bracing themselves to receive bids for Ross Stewart in the summer amid interest from Rangers, according to the Daily Record.
The newspaper reported via their print edition today [14 April, back page and page 56] that the Light Blues are lining up a swoop to sign the 25-year-old striker, who’ll enter the final year of his contract at the Stadium of Light in the summer.
It is understood that English League One side Sunderland have currently “shelved contract talks” with the Irvine-born centre-forward as he focuses on his team’s promotion battle.
Black Cats boss Alex Neil has been quoted by the Daily Record as saying: “I’m not going into the remaining games worrying if we don’t win them then Ross might see his future elsewhere.”
Busy summer
We’re expecting a lot of ins and outs at Ibrox in the summer transfer window.
Regardless of whether we make the Champions League group stages by winning the Scottish Premiership, there’ll be players who need to be moved on and players who’ll need to be brought in.
Almost every position needs a bit of an overhaul and the striker position is certainly one with Alfredo Morelos entering the last year of his contract.
If El Bufalo signs a contract extension then that’s great, we’ll be absolutely over the moon.
But the sad reality is that we don’t expect Morelos to be at Ibrox for much longer so this summer might be seen as the last chance to cash in on the Colombian goal machine.
We don’t think Stewart is a good enough replacement though.
Sunderland legend Kevin Phillips is a fan of the former Celtic academy player, telling Football Insider in September that he’s “an old fashioned centre-forward” who is “exciting” to watch.
While the Scot has been flying in England this season with 22 goals in 41 league appearances, there’s no evidence that he could perform that way while trying to win major silverware in Scotland and playing against top teams in Europe.
Stewart’s previous experience in the Scottish Premiership has seen him score just nine times in 41 appearances across spells with both Ross County and St Mirren.
As a back-up, he might be fine. But as a replacement for Morelos, absolutely no chance.
In other Rangers news, fans will love this video clip of what a Gers teenager did right in front of Celtic fans at Parkhead.