Stewart's ex boss lifts lid on striker - 'Are we talking £4m or £5m?'
Sunderland’s top scorer Ross Stewart is a man in demand – and his former manager has been lifting the lid on his former striker.
Stewart – who has another yearonhisSunderlanddeal-is reportedtobewantedbyRangers,SwanseaCityandNorwich City this summer. And his former manager has warned he won’t come cheap if clubs do make a move for him.
Former Ross County boss
StuartKettlewelltoldtheDaily Record: “Ross’ quality is probablyfarbeyondwhatmostpeople think.
“To my mind, he has every attribute you’d want from a striker when you consider his hold-up play, his pace, his ability to finish with his head and feet. Could he offer something to a club like Rangers? One hundred per cent. I think he’d really surprise a lot of people."
He added: “He’s got another year left on his contract, so I thinkSunderlandwillbelookingforsomeseriousmoneyfor him.
“If they’re prepared to sell, I genuinely think we’re going to be talking big numbers to sign a guy of his quality who has nowprovenhimselfatacertain level. I think he can go higher againandatthatstageitcomes down to money where he goes.
“I’mveryfriendlywithRoss’ agent, I speak to him regularly and I think it’s going to be a situation where a number of clubs down south will be prepared to pay significant sums to get their hands on someone like him.
“SoitlookslikeRangerswill have to do something similar if they’re serious.
“Arewetalking£4millionor £5million?Idon’tknow,butI’d imagine there are clubs down southpreparedtopaythattype of money.”
The Sunderland striker has been in good form after replacing Charlie Wyke and has scored 22 goals in League One. He was recently called into the Scotland squad.
Stewart, 25, signed for Sunderlandlastyearafterimpressing with Ross County.
*Newcastle United and Everton have been credited with an interest in ‘£1m-rated’ Sunderland youngster Chris Rigg.
The Sun report both clubs, whohavebeenbattlingagainst relegation from the Premier Leaguethisseason,arekeeping tabs on the Sunderland youth.
Theyclaim14-year-oldRigg couldbevaluedupto£1million.
The Sun report: “The local lad comes from a family who support Newcastle United but he may head for Merseyside.”
The teenager is already playing for Sunderland’s Under-18 side.