Sunderland will reportedly struggle to get a decent fee for Ross Stewart.
That’s according to journalist Alan Nixon, who has claimed that the striker’s valuation will have dramatically decreased following news that he won’t return to action until late September.
After netting 36 goals in only 62 appearances over the last two seasons, Stewart has attracted interest from the top two tiers in English football ahead of his contract expiry next summer.
The Scot’s Achilles injury that he sustained in January made his future even more unclear, however his extended spell on the sidelines is even worse news for the Black Cats.
Sunderland slapped a £10 million valuation on Stewart in December 2022 and it was expected that clubs could well pay that this summer, with the likes of Brentford and Bournemouth said to be keeping an eye on him.
However, Stewart could now miss around two months of the new campaign and Sunderland will now struggle to ask for a similar fee.
Nixon wrote: ‘That whole injury thing is central to this. You won’t get the money you want in this window… or ever… if he’s not back on the grass until late September.’
Sunderland should now take all the money they can get for Ross Stewart
Ross Stewart had become a bit of a hero on Wearside over the last couple of years, however things are beginning to get very frustrating for the fans surrounding his future.
With the Scotland international’s current deal expiring next summer, it may well be time to move him on. While they may not get the £10m they had hoped, the Black Cats can surely make a decent profit from Stewart’s departure and can avoid losing him for free in 12 months time.
Stewart may will not be the same player he was when he finally returns after eight months on the sidelines anyway, so it is maybe better to cash in while they can.