EXCLUSIVE: Sunderland to green-light Ross Stewart departure as Southampton rekindle interest

Sunderland are braced for Southampton to make a serious deadline-beating push for Ross Stewart.

Sunderland’s search for a new senior striker may have just gotten a lot more complicated, with Southampton rekindling their interest in Ross Stewart.

Stewart has not played since January due to a serious Achilles injury, but he is in the final year of his current deal and is unlikely to sign a new one.

New Southampton boss Russell Martin has been a fan of Stewart’s since he was in charge of MK Dons and Sunderland beat him to the Scotsman’s signature when they signed him from Ross County in January 2021.

That put him on the Saints’ transfer radar all summer, although a few weeks ago they shelved their interest to pursue other targets. Those targets have not been obtainable, though, and they have now shifted their sights back to Stewart in the remaining days of the transfer window.

Sunderland are now braced for a serious offer from the South Coast for Stewart, and his contractual stand-off has made them receptive to selling.

However, no deal will be sanctioned until Sunderland get their own replacement, which means there could be some transfer drama going all the way to the deadline. 

Tony Mowbray recently expressed his hope that Stewart would remain on Wearside and sign a new deal.  

"I'm hoping Ross Stewart gets fit and, whether he signs a contract or doesn't sign a contract, he scores 20 goals between whenever he is fit and the end of the season," Mowbray said.

"I still believe, somewhere along the line, the supporters have still got a huge part to play with Ross Stewart.

"OK, he's not signed a deal, but if he is scoring goals, enjoying his football, the crowd are singing his name, he's their hero, why wouldn't you sign for a club with 46,000 supporters all singing your name? Ross just wants to be where he is loved and cared for, and there isn't a bigger, better, football club in this league than this one."

However, as the clock ticks down towards the deadline, it appears the focus will shift instead to replacing the Scotsman. 

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