Rangers have joined Norwich City in the battle to sign Ross Stewart with the Northern Echo reporting that the Sunderland striker could be set for a return to Scotland.
Kemar Roofe’s hat-trick against St Mirren aside, Rangers’ last couple of outings have done little to quell the concerns of supporters fearing a future without Alfredo Morelos at Ibrox.
Shorn of their Tonka truck talisman, the Gers were as blunt as a poundshop steak knife in successive defeats to Celtic and Braga – two losses that threatens to turn a promising season into a trophyless one.
Morelos, like Ryan Kent, Joe Aribo and co, has just over 12 months left on his contract. And the Colombian international poured a gallon of petrol on the speculation pyre recently when the news broke that he had hired a new agent.
Can Ross Stewart replace Morelos at Rangers?
Replacing a player of Morelos’ irrepressible influence will be easier said than done.
Stewart would certainly have big boots to fill. But with 22 goals for a promotion-chasing Sunderland side – the joint-most in England’s third-tier – the Ayrshire-born powerhouse has actually scored more frequently than Morelos in 2021/22.
Stewart, too, is out of contract in the summer of 2023.
And, according to the Northern Echo, his potential availability has not gone unnoticed. Rangers have joined goal-shy Norwich City in expressing an interest.
The report adds that Sunderland boss Alex Neil has put contract talks on the backburner until the end of the season. The Black Cats in the midst of a top-six battle. They can do without any distractions.
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“Everyone talks about Ross Stewart’s goals,” Portsmouth manager Danny Cowley said recently of the former Ross County man (Chronicle).
“But the way he defends from the front is the reason why for me is the best forward in the division.”
Interestingly, the Rangers target had a spell at Celtic before the Old Firm giants opted to release him.
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