Stoke City are reportedly “poised” to sign Sunderland striker Ross Stewart amid competition from Championship rivals.

The 26-year-old is also attracting interest from Middlesbrough and newly relegated Southampton, though Stoke hold a key advantage over their transfer rivals in this battle.

Potters boss Alex Neil worked together at Sunderland in 2022, and Neil has reportedly been “waiting for” Stewart to get fit after suffering a serious Achilles injury back in January of this year.

That’s according to journalist Alan Nixon, who also says Neil has “a big cheque in his pocket” to make a bid for Stewart in the current transfer window.

Stewart is out of contract at Sunderland in a year’s time, so they may be pushed into selling their star striker this summer. There are also doubts over whether he will be fit to start the season, but there is no doubt his talents will be valuable regardless.

The striker scored 10 goals in 13 Championship appearances last season, while also setting up three. The year before that, he scored 26 goals in 49 League One matches – including the play-offs.

Speaking about his injury earlier this week, Sunderland boss Tony Mowbray said: “I’ve seen Ross out on the training ground with the physio, with his trainers on at the minute doing very light stuff but actually back on the grass which is really exciting and positive,” said Mowbray.