Stewart set for contract talks

Sunderland striker Ross Stewart may have a ‘dialog within the close to future’ relating to a brand new long-term contract, in line with sporting director Kristjaan Speakman.

The Lowdown: Stewart’s story profiled

The Scotland worldwide was set to be out of contract on the finish of the 2022/23 Championship season, which noticed him closely linked with an exit in January.

The Black Cats talisman was attracting interest from the likes of Glasgow Rangers and Middlesbrough, although any type of deal did not materialise earlier than the deadline.

The 6 foot 2 ahead’s one-year extension has since been triggered, which means that he’ll keep put till at the least 2024, however having been ruled out for the rest of the marketing campaign with an achilles harm, securing his long-term companies is now the precedence.

Talking to the Sunderland Echo, Speakman revealed that the Wearside outfit are planning to open negotiations with Stewart over extending his keep on the Stadium of Mild.

“Our ambition has at all times been to re-sign Ross and that continues to be the case.

“We have clearly bought to be delicate across the scenario nowadays however I am certain there will likely be a dialog within the close to future about the place we’re at with that.

“It was solely pure that we put that on maintain coming into the January window, as a result of I do not assume these conversations are ever that productive throughout a switch window.”

The Verdict: Totally deserved

Stewart is arguably Sunderland’s major attacking pressure, and his numbers, rewarding him with a brand new long-term contract could be nothing lower than he deserves.

The Irvine native has made a exceptional 13 objective contributions in the identical variety of second-tier outings this time period, and he was averaging 3.5 photographs per league recreation previous to his harm (WhoScored).

Tony Mowbray can be supplied with the proper aerial menace given the 26-year-old’s top, so it could be in everybody’s greatest pursuits to tie him down earlier than the upcoming summer season window.