Sunderland followers can be assured of taking pictures up the Championship desk after the World Cup break as star striker Ross Stewart needs to be again obtainable after recovering from damage, however the Black Cats’ hopes of retaining him in the long run have seemingly suffered a blow.
Journalist Alan Nixon has suggested on Twitter that an settlement between Stewart and Sunderland for a brand new contract will not be shut, which represents a giant blow to Mowbray forward of the January window.
“Nothing shut,” he tweeted.
His contract with the northeast facet is presently set to run out in June 2023, though the Championship facet do have the option to extend it by one other 12 months.
Nonetheless, they’re understandably eager to tie him all the way down to an extended deal with the intention to thrust back any potential suitors in January and make sure that he doesn’t depart for a minimal payment within the close to future.
Chairman Kyril Louis-Dreyfus confirmed this at a current assembly with followers, saying: “We’re having ongoing conversations and we’re all hopeful that it’ll result in a profitable final result.”
Director Kristjaan Speakman additionally instructed it throughout the summer season after Stewart performed a giant half in Sunderland returning to the second tier.
He said: “Ross has had an unimaginable season. So, for us, we’re at all times making an attempt to guard gamers like that who’ve carried out so effectively. And naturally, you need to try to reward gamers.”
Will Stewart signal a brand new deal?
The Scotland worldwide began the brand new season in excellent kind for the Black Cats, contributing 5 objectives and three assists in simply seven appearances, incomes an unimaginable 7.81 score from WhoScored for his performances.
This ranks him comfortably because the top performer in Tony Mowbray’s facet to this point this marketing campaign, so it’s clear that he has been a giant miss for Sunderland, as they’ve dropped down the desk in his absence.
Stewart will not be solely the highest scorer within the squad, regardless of taking part in far fewer than most, however he has additionally averaged extra photographs per recreation and extra aerials gained per recreation than another participant, which emphasises how vital he’s to the way in which Sunderland play.
After such a powerful begin to the 2022/23 time period, on the again of an electrical season in League One to fireplace Sunderland to promotion, it was maybe at all times possible that the 26-year-old would appeal to curiosity from elsewhere.
Rangers, specifically, had been heavily linked with Stewart over the summer season, and Mowbray could be involved that his time on the Stadium of Mild may quickly be coming to an finish.
If the star striker can’t be tied all the way down to a brand new deal on the Stadium of Mild, Sunderland could be compelled to money in, which might do their probabilities of flying up the desk critical hurt.