Middlesbrough and Rangers handed blow in Sunderland transfer pursuit

Sunderland are not interested in cashing in on their assets this summer and are prepared to offer Ross Stewart a new deal, according to the Northern Echo, in what is a blow to Middlesbrough and Rangers. 

The Scottish striker scored 26 times for the Black Cats as he helped them win promotion back to the Championship after four years in League One.

That form has seen him linked with a move to nearby Middlesbrough as Chris Wilder searches for more forward firepower (The Mirror (26/05: p62) while Rangers have also been touted with an interest in the 25-year-old.

However, a report from the Northern Echo indicates that both clubs have been handed a blow in their pursuit of the Sunderland man.

It is understood that the club are ready to offer Stewart, who is out of contract next summer, a new deal while sporting director Kristjaan Speakman has revealed that the Black Cats are not interested in cashing in on any of their prized assets in the upcoming window.

He said: “From our contractual status and planning, we have got players that are on contracts where it’s Sunderland’s decision what happens to those players to a certain degree”

“We are constantly negotiating with players. You want happy players in the club to obviously then perform but ultimately we are putting ourselves in position where we are protecting the club. We are looking after the players and therefore everyone is happy.

“We want players that want to play at the highest level. I’ve got no issue with players in League One saying they want be in the Championship or players saying ‘if we are going to be stuck in League One, I want to move to the Championship’. They are the players you want. You don’t want the players that are happy just doing what they are normally