Sunderland fans have been speculating about a possible return for Southampton striker Ross Stewart this summer.
Ross Stewart left Sunderland for Southampton in September 2023 with the Saints reportedly paying an initial fee of £8million for the Scot.
Stewart, 28, spent two-and-a-half years with Sunderland, scoring 40 goals in 80 games and grabbing eight assists along the way.
After scoring 24 League One goals during the 2021/22 promotion-winning season with Sunderland, Stewart was named Sunderland’s Player of the Year and also the PFA League One Player of the Year.
But injury meant that Stewart featured just 13 times in the Championship in 2022/23, still scoring 10 goals, before joining Southampton last summer and going on to feature four times in the 2023/24 Championship season as multiple injuries beset the big striker.
Stewart has barely featured for Southampton this summer ahead of their Premier League return.
And the likelihood of Stewart being down the pecking order at St Mary’s next season has prompted some Sunderland fans on social media to speculate over a possible loan return to the Stadium of Light.
James Copley comments on Sunderland return for Ross Stewart
Sunderland are still in desperate need of a striker, having been so since Stewart’s exit last summer.
Sunderland are linked with Alexandre Mendy at Caen and have also been credited with an interest in Ike Ugbo, who appears set to join Sheffield Wednesday.
Time is running out for sporting director Kristjaan Speakman to sign a new striker for head coach Regis Le Bris.
But journalist James Copley believes that a return for Stewart may be off the cards, and that the Scot is likely to stay at Southampton this summer.
Should Sunderland turn their attentions to the loan market for new strikers
Sunderland have just over three weeks to sign a new striker before the summer transfer window shuts on August 30th.
For Speakman, every day between now and then is valuable.
He simply can’t go another window without signing a new striker, with pre-season showing that Le Bris can’t yet rely on names like Eliezer Mayenda to lead the line.
Loan signings may come into the equation at some point, but likely later in the window when Premier League clubs have finalised their own transfer business.
For Speakman, it would be a risk leaving it late and relying on loan signings, so a permanent signing before then would be the most sensible bet.
As for Stewart, a return would make sense for both player and club. But his injury record means that Sunderland would be taking a huge risk by bringing him in and likely paying some of his wages.
So far this summer, it’s proving difficult for Sunderland to find a suitable striker candidate.