Rangers have been linked with Ross Stewart this season but Sunderland appear to be closing in on a new deal for the striker.
The Gers will surely be in the market for a new striker or two this summer.
Alfredo Morelos is out of contract at the end of the season and Kemar Roofe’s regular injury problems mean he can’t really be relied upon.
Michael Beale needs another goalscoring threat in his Rangers squad and Stewart has been linked this season.
Reports from The Northern Echo way back in April suggested that Rangers were in the race to sign Sunderland striker Stewart.
The same outlet offered an update, claiming that Stewart had become Rangers’ top striker target for last summer’s transfer window.
Antonio Colak ended up arriving instead but the rumours with Stewart haven’t ended.
Pete O’Rourke told Give Me Sport in December that signing Stewart was ‘definitely’ a deal Rangers would like to do in January.
Again though, no deal materialised and it looks like Sunderland will now keep their top striker.
Sunderland moving towards keeping Rangers target Ross Stewart
Stewart is out of contract this summer but Sunderland have a one-year option on the deal.
Sunderland don’t want to see Stewart’s value drop this summer though and The Sunday Mirror (05/03, p77) claim that a new contract is edging closer.
The Black Cats are desperate to give new deals to Stewart and midfielder Dan Neil, and agreements appear to be in the pipeline.
Stewart is out injured for the rest of the season but Sunderland are still adamant about keeping the striker for the long-term.
The 26-year-old has racked up 10 goals in 13 Championship games this season after smashing 26 goals last season.
Stewart is now a Scotland international with two caps to his name and you can understand why Rangers are keen.
It now sounds like the former Ross County striker is now staying at the Stadium of Light though, leaving Rangers to look elsewhere for a new striker.
