Stuart Kettlewell reckons Rangers may have to splash out as much as £5million if they’re serious about signing Ross Stewart.
But the former Ross County boss insists his old Staggies striker would be worth every penny.
The 25-year-old has emerged as a target for Gio van Bronckhorst after blasting 22 goals for new club Sunderland this season and Kettlewell insists he’s got all the tools to be a hit at Ibrox.
But with another year to run on his Black Cats contract, Kettlewell - who signed Stewart from St Mirren when he was in co-command in Dingwall with Steven Ferguson - warned he won’t come cheap.
He said: “Ross’ quality is probably far beyond what most people think.
“To my mind, he has every attribute you’d want from a striker when you consider his hold-up play, his pace, his ability to finish with his head and feet.
“Could he offer something to a club like Rangers? One hundred per cent.
“I think he’d really surprise a lot of people.
“Sunderland had Charlie Wyke banging in goals for fun last year but that allowed them to slowly bed in Ross.
“Now he’s running with that responsibility of being their main striker and he’s hit 22 goals already.
“But that’s likely to mean there’s many suitors down south as well as Rangers.
“He’s got another year left on his contract, so I think Sunderland will be looking for some serious money for him.
“If they’re prepared to sell, I genuinely think we’re going to be talking big numbers to sign a guy of his quality who has now proven himself at a certain level.
“I think he can go higher again and at that stage it comes down to money where he goes.
“I’m very friendly with Ross’ agent, I speak to him regularly and I think it’s going to be a situation where a number of clubs down south will be prepared to pay significant sums to get their hands on someone like him.
“So it looks like Rangers will have to do something similar if they’re serious.
“Are we talking £4million or £5million? I don’t know but I’d imagine there are clubs down south prepared to pay that type of money.”
