THREE Championship clubs head the queue to sign Sunderland striker Ross Stewart — Middlesbrough, Southampton and Stoke City.
Boro are ready to raid their neighbours for the Scottish hitman, 27, who is out of contract at the end of next season and may have to be sold.
But Saints will move for him if they sell any of their own forwards.
And Stewart’s former boss Alex Neil at Stoke has been waiting for him to get fit — with a big cheque in his pocket to bid for him.
Stewart is still recovering from a serious Achilles injury and may not be ready for the start of the new campaign.
The Scottish forward previously made 23 appearances for the Black Cats under Neil, scoring 11 goals in those matches.
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Since joining from Ross County in January 2021, Stewart has become a key man for Sunderland.
Overall, he has scored 40 goals in 80 appearances as well as chipping in with eight assists.
He has also won the EFL Trophy and secured promotion to the Championship with Sunderland in 2022.
Fans will be hoping the 26-year-old stays this summer as the club look to build on last season’s sixth place finish.
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However, Boro, Stoke and Southampton are all keen to bolster their own promotion bids with the addition of Stewart.
As for incomings at the Stadium of Light, though, Tony Mowbray has signed several promising youngsters including Jobe Bellingham.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
