Middlesbrough are planning to test Sunderland’s resolve by making a bid for their prolific striker Ross Stewart, according to Football Insider’s Pete O’Rourke.
The 26-year-old Scotland striker has 12 months left to run on his deal at The Black Cats, and there has been plenty of interest from other clubs, with Southampton having pulled out of the race to sign him as they look to pursue other targets. This has led Michael Carrick’s side to test the waters to see if they can prize Stewart to the Riverside Stadium.
What’s Been Said?
According to O’Rourke, Sunderland are not willing to lose Stewart on a free next summer as he enters the final 12 months of his deal, having joined the Wearside club in January 2021 form Ross County. He scored 24 goals in his first-full season with the club as Sunderland won promotion from League One to the Championship via the Play-Offs. Last season he also started off strongly, forming a lethal partnership with then on-loan striker Ellis Simms with 10 goals in 13 appearances before his campaign was ended with an Achilles injury – an injury that the striker is still recovering from, which may have had an impact in getting a deal done earlier this window.
With no progress being made on renewal talks at the Stadium of Light, several clubs have put forward their interest in the striker, with local rivals Middlesbrough being the latest side linked to the striker, as they look to go one better this campaign and try and win promotion back to the Premier League. Michael Carrick is on the hunt for a striker to replace departing Aston Villa loanee Cameron Archer, who played a big part in their success last season alongside top scorer Chuba Akpom, who also picked up the Championship Player of The Season Award last season. Premier League newcomers Luton Town are also apparently keen on the Scot as they look to bolster their squad ahead of their maiden campaign in the top-flight.
Writer’s View
Ross Stewart before his Achilles injury was one of the most prolific strikers in English Football. At League One level, he was the bright spark that carried Sunderland all the way to the Championship under Alex Neil, and continued to impress when Tony Mowbray was appointed. He even was beginning to form a decent partnership with now Coventry striker Simms before his season was ended in February.
Nevertheless, a fully-fit Ross Stewart is a capable option at this level and Middlesbrough would definitely be an attractive option to the Scot, as he would get to work under Michael Carrick who knows how to develop players – look at Chuba Akpom as a prime example. Was set to leave and unwanted, Carrick came him and he propelled his side to the Play-Offs and won the Championship Player Of The Season Award. A partnership of Akpom and a potentially fully-fit Ross Stewart is eyecatching to say the least.
