Rangers keen on Ross Stewart move in January as Sunderland talks reach impasse
Ross Stewart’s talks over a new contract at Sunderland have “reached an impasse” with Rangers keen on a January move, Keith Downie reports.
The Scottish international has been in prolific form this year in the English Championship, scoring seven times in just nine appearances either side of a hamstring injury, after netting 26 in League One last season.
That output has alerted the Light Blues along with a host of English sides in the top two tiers, with Middlesbrough apparently at the front of the queue currently, and while he isn’t looking to leave the Black Cats they could look to sell him in the upcoming window while they still can.
Reporting via Twitter on Thursday morning (29 December) Sky Sports journalist Downie wrote: “Middlesbrough are showing the strongest interest from a clutch of clubs wanting to sign Sunderland striker Ross Stewart.
“Stewart could leave in January with Blackburn & Stoke among a number of Champ clubs – plus Rangers – keen. PL duo Crystal Palace & Brentford also monitoring.
“Stewart is settled at Sunderland and wants to stay, but talks over a new contract have reached an impasse.
“Other clubs offering significantly more in wages & SAFC could cash in on him now. If Stewart goes, Sunderland could replace him with Blackpool striker Jerry Yates.”
Race
Clearly the competition for Stewart’s signature is high, which is no surprise considering the number of goals he has scored in the past 18 months.
So it won’t be a simple task to come out on top in January if Michael Beale is interested in the 26-year-old, but Sunderland may be more interested in selling him north of the border than within the same division.
The club has an option to extend his contract by a year, with it currently expiring in the summer, but want him to commit to a long-term deal.
And if negotiations towards that appear to be going nowhere the Light Blues might be the more attractive option if it means they don’t have to face their former charge on the pitch.
Beale should be well aware of the former Ross County forward having come from Championship side QPR last month so if the finances are available to come close to competing with what’s on offer in England it could work out.
Alfredo Morelos has been in the goals for the new manager but his future remains unresolved, while there are suspicions that top scorer Antonio Colak doesn’t suite his style of play, so if Beale is looking to add up front Stewart could well be an option.
In other Rangers news, Andy Walker was full of praise for what he has seen from an “impressive” figure at Ibrox.