EXCLUSIVE: Premier League newcomers to test Sunderland Ross Stewart resolve

Sunderland will have their resolve tested this summer with Premier League newcomers Luton Town eying a move for Ross Stewart.

Stewart is currently out with an Achilles injury, and he is not expected to be fit to start the new season.

That has left his Sunderland future clouded in uncertainty given he has now entered the final year of his contract and, so far, there are no signs of a breakthrough in talks to agree another.

Luton are hoping to take advantage of that situation, with their head of recruitment, Mick Harford, a keen follower of the Black Cats.

Sunderland have always insisted it is their plan to keep Stewart, with sporting director Kristjaan Speakman again reiterating that stance to supporters last week.

“It’s just an ongoing conversation," Speakman told the Sunderland Echo.

"We’ve been working really, really hard with the squad, we had a good conversation with Trai Hume and we managed to get that concluded.

"We had an equally long with Dennis Cirkin and we’ve just managed to get that concluded, so I’m really optimistic that we can try to tick off some of these additional ones on the to-do list.

""I’ve said all along that it has to work for both sides, and that doesn’t mean there is any negativity on either side. As a player you’ve got to be comfortable with your deal and as a club you’ve got to manage everything from your side with budgets etc.

"Hopefully we can find a conclusion, and Ross getting fit is obviously going to be a key factor in that."

Luton’s interest is significant, though, and will test Sunderland’s confidence of reaching an agreement with Stewart.

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