Sunderland are determined to hang onto the ‘incredible’ Ross Stewart amid interest from QPR, Sheffield United and Scottish giants Rangers, director Kristjaan Speakman tells The Chronicle.
There was more than just promotion on the line during last week’s play-off final between Wycombe Wanderers and Alex Neil’s Black Cats.
With Stewart entering the final 12 months of his contract, defeat at Wembley would surely have resulted in Sunderland bidding farewell to their talismanic top scorer for the second summer in succession, following Charlie Wyke’s shock move to Wigan Athletic in 2021.
It’s fitting, then, that it was Stewart – their 26-goal battering ram of a number nine – who put the result beyond all doubt, his laser-like 79th minute winner helping Sunderland break three of their League One prison after four years of gruel and gloom.
Attention will now turn to extending Stewart’s contract. And a long-awaited return to the Championship should, in theory, make the talks a lot more straightforward than they might otherwise have been.
Will Rangers target Ross Stewart stay at Sunderland?
“Ross has had an incredible season. So, for us, we’re always trying to protect players like that who have performed so well. And naturally, you want to try and reward players,” explains Speakman.
“It gives inspiration to other people as well (to perform) and you want to keep that cycle going. You want that culture at the club.”
The Northern Echo believes that Rangers are keen on the Scotland international. A former Ross County forward, 6ft 2ins Stewart would give Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s Europa League finalists a different, more physical option in the final third.
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Interestingly, the Rangers target started his career as a youngster down the road at Celtic.
According to The Mirror (26th May, page 62), Sunderland are willing to make Stewart their best-paid player.
Though that has not stopped Championship trio Queens Park Rangers, Middlesbrough and Sheffield United from fluttering their eyelashes in his direction.
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