Rangers target Ross Stewart has put Sunderland contract talks on hold.
The Black Cats are keen to reward their top scorer with a new deal amongst growing interest from the Scottish champions and clubs in both the English Premier League and Championship.
The 25-year-old, however, wants to focus on trying to get Sunderland out of League One and is in no rush to thrash out his long-term future.
The Scotland new boy still has another year on his contract after this one, while Sunderland also have an option to extend that for another year.
Stewart has 22 goals and that has seen interest in him grow and also saw him win his first Scotland call-up for the recent friendlies against Poland and Austria.
Rangers sporting director Ross Wilson has a string of reports on the former Ross County and that interest could be firmed up if they were to sell one of their strikers this summer.
Alfredo Morelo s would be going into the final year of his contract while the likes of Cedric Itten could be deemed surplus to requirements.
Former Rangers and Sunderland striker Jermain Defoe has also given Stewart a glowing reference.
English Premier League strugglers Norwich City have also got a string of reports on the Scot, while Swansea City boss Russell Martin asked the question in January but didn’t have the funds.
There are also a number of other English Premier League and Championships who are keeping a close eye on his situation.
