Sunderland are still in with a shot of ending their four-year stay in the third tier of English football this season as they attempt to win promotion.
The Black Cats have been stuck in League One since 2018 and are currently seventh in the table as it stands, two points behind the play-off places.
Scottish striker Ross Stewart has been crucial to the club’s promotion charge, regularly firing in goals throughout the campaign. Portsmouth manager Danny Cowley dubbed him “the best forward in the division” and his tally of 22 goals suggests that he is certainly right up there with the best finishers in the league.
However, the Wearsiders may face a tricky situation with him in the summer…
Shocker
Premier League side Norwich have been linked with a swoop for the Scotland international at the end of the season and this should set the alarm bells ringing at the Stadium of Light.
Whilst the Canaries are bottom of the top flight and facing relegation to the Championship, they should still be in a good position in the second tier next term. They have the likes of Max Aarons, Teemu Pukki and Tim Krul in their squad and can offer Stewart the chance to fight for promotion back to the top tier.
Meanwhile, Sunderland will only be able to offer him League One football or a starring role in a newly-promoted team in the Championship. This suggests that a move to Norwich could be tempting for the centre-forward, and the Wearside club may not be able to command a significant fee for him as he will only have one year left on his contract.
Kristjaan Speakman is therefore facing a transfer shocker heading into the summer. The Black Cats supremo must do everything in his power to extend the 25-year-old’s deal so that the club are not in a terrible negotiating position if Norwich come calling.
They may not be able to reject a bid from the Canaries in the knowledge that he would be able to depart from the Stadium of Light for nothing in 2023, whereas pinning him down to fresh terms will allow them to hold their own and demand a big fee for him.
This means that they would either deter clubs from attempting to snap up Stewart or they would land a significant payday and be able to use that money to source a replacement. Speakman must now get to work on agreeing an extension with the £2.7k-per-week gem in order to prevent a summer shocker.
AND in other news, Sold at £9m, now worth £720k: Sunderland played a blinder with “unit” whose career has flopped…