Journalist Joe Nicholson has claimed that if Sunderland do not gain promotion, then Ross Stewart will leave for a Championship side.
Ross Stewart signed for Sunderland in January last year and is the top scorer in League One this season with 22 goals in 39 league games and he also has four assists to his name, according to Transfermarkt.
Sunderland sit 6th in League One and are unbeaten in their last six games in the league.
In the second half of last season, Stewart scored just twice in the 11 games that he played for Sunderland, but has come to life this campaign for his side, and will be key if The Black Cats want to push for a play-off place.
After receiving a Scotland international call-up, he will be a wanted man in the summer, and whilst talking to The Roar Podcast- Sunderland Echo, Joe Nicholson identified that it is key that Sunderland gain promotion if they want to keep their man next term.
(19:39) “He’s a stand-alone top scorer at the moment in league 1 with 22 goals, really impressed with what he’s offered, not just with his goals but with his link-up play, areal presence, running into the channels, and I think he’s the first player if Sunderland do not go up this season, he’s the one that a lot of championship clubs will look at him, there will be a lot of interest,” Nicholson said.
TIF Thoughts on Ross Stewart…
Stewart has an average player rating over the past 12 months of 7.22, and averages 2.9 shots per game, as well as winning over 50% of his aerial duels. He is currently valued at just £450,000 (as per Transfermarkt), but if he was to move in the summer, then Sunderland should be able to ask for a bigger fee.
It’s safe to say that based off his performances so far this season, clubs in the Championship will no doubt already be taking a look, regardless of promotion. However, with the Scotsman already familiar with surroundings in Sunderland and fully settled on and off the field, you would think that promotion would be the key to him staying.