Sunderland Striker In Saints Radar But There Is A Strange Twist

Southampton are being touted as a potential suitor for Sunderland striker Ross Stewart, but if they sign him, it could be that it will be two months before he would make his debut, is that something that Saints could risk.

Ross Stewart has been big news during the transfer window and has been linked with a number of clubs, the72.co.uk are one claiming that "Southampton have re-ignited their interest" but there is one condition that Sunderland will apply.

The condition that the Mackem's will be applying is that they will not let him leave unless they have already signed a replacement, which with just over 60 hours left of the transfer window as I write, is going to mean a lot of wheeling and dealing.

But that isn't the strange twist , that is the fact that Stewart has been out injured and isn't likely to resume full training to the end of September.

He ruptured his Achilles back in January and hasn't played since, add to that he also had a thigh injury earlier in the season and there is the question of why Southampton or indeed any club interested would sign a player who is potentially two months away from actually being ready to play in a competitive game.

The attraction is that Stewart in just 13 games in the Championship last season scored 10 goals plus 3 assists, but the gamble is that he will return the same player that he was, an injury to the Achilles can be difficult in that it can affect the players ability to run in the same way as before the injury, there is the question of whether it will rob the victim of a yard of their pace.

So this is the question that any buying club will have to consider when making the bid.

To soften the blow is the fact that Stewart is in the last year of his contract, Sunderland have to balance up the situation and consider whether it will be better to get something now, perhaps more in January if he comes back as explosively as he left off or take the risk of losing him in the summer for nothing.

Given that transfermarkt have his value as only around £3 million at present, due to his inexperience in England at even Championship level, it is possibly a gamble that both Sunderland in keeping him and potential buying clubs would be willing to take.

But if Che Adams leave, Saints need a striker now and waiting two months for him to firstly be fit and secondly if he is the same player, is probably a little bit too much of a risk.

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