Bristol City exit leaves former Chelsea, Fulham and Middlesbrough star in club limbo
One of Bristol City’s transfer sagas received an almost definitive answer last week.
No, it’s not anything to do with Alex Scott, but instead club record signing Tomas Kalas. The 30-year-old was offered a new deal by the Robins in May, but things went quiet, and he wasn’t seen in pre-season.
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The finer details of the contract offer weren’t released but his wage was expected to be considerably lower than what he was on before. The Czech Republic international was said to be a high earner and in line with the clubs plans to reduce the wage bill, they offered a deal on reduced terms to Kalas.
When asked about Kalas potentially returning, Nigel Pearson said: “I’ve not spoken to Tomas for weeks and I think that is something that is probably over now.
“We’re not going to shift on the financial aspects of where we were on him and that was the reason it didn’t go ahead. I think the probabilities are very very low.”
City’s stance is clear, and if things do suddenly change then he has a task of breaking into the team. Rob Dickie and Zak Vyner are the preferred partnership meanwhile Jamie Knight-Lebel and Raphael Araoye all could benefit from Kalas’ absence. Several of City’s defenders can move into centre-back, and there is still Rob Atkinson to return, so in that sense the team have moved on from Kalas.
As for what’s next for the former Chelsea, Fulham and Middlesbrough defender remains to be seen. He was in attendance at City’s season opener against Preston, and is still based near Bristol, but will now have to mull over his next steps. Kalas was at the game, as was Alex Scott, who has also been tipped to leave.
He’s had no transfer links to other clubs, and so where he ends up next will be interesting. The door isn’t firmly shut on him returning and an injury crisis at centre-back could see him return, but that will be on City’s terms rather than his, as they’ve made their position be known to him.
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The Scottish international is into the final year of his deal at the Stadium of Light and unless a new contract can be resolved, there will be question marks surrounding his long-term future at Sunderland. Stewart has reportedly rejected multiple new contract offers from the club, according to TEAMtalk.
Given how high his stock is, in spite of the injury issues, he will have admirers from the Championship and the Premier League. This is the last summer window in which the Black Cats will be able to receive a fee for him, which could prompt them to cash-in now and reinvest the money in other areas with whatever funds they raise.
Alan Nixon via Patreon reported last month that Middlesbrough, Stoke City, and Southampton were all queuing up to land the 27-year-old striker. Luton Town and Rangers have also been credited with an interest lately.
He won’t be an easy player to replace, given that he scored 26 goals and claimed five assists in his first season with the club and helped guide them to promotion via the play-offs in League One.
Unfortunately, Stewart suffered from multiple injury issues over the course of last season in the Championship, meaning he was restricted to just 15 appearances. However, he scored an impressive 11 goals and notched a further three assists in that time.
Stewart will be out until late September as he continues his recovery from an Achilles injury, but it hasn’t stopped there from being much interest in his signature, with the striker refusing to put pen-to-paper at the Stadium of Light. As rumours continue to circulate surrounding Stewart’s future, we rounded up all the latest transfer news regarding the Italy international, here.
Middlesbrough interest in Stewart steps up
Middlesbrough are weighing up a bid for Sunderland’s star striker as they look to test their local rivals’ resolve, according to Football Insider.
The report claims that with no progress is being made in contract talks with the Scot out of contract at the end of the season.
This could force the Black Cats to look to cash in as they do not want to lose him for nothing next summer.
However, Sunderland boss Tony Mowbray has refused to give up in his quest to keep Stewart at the Stadium of Light beyond next summer, speaking to the Mirror.
“Regardless of contractual situations, unless he gets sold in the next month and the phone is not ringing off the hook, I’m hoping that he can play for us and win some football matches.
Speaking to Chronicle Live after the recent 2-1 home defeat to Ipswich Town, Mowbray made it clear where he felt Sunderland’s problems are – highlighting a lack of quality in the final third with their current striker situation.
“I don’t want to keep banging the drum but I do think we need more options at the top end of the pitch, and I know the club is trying really hard to do that. We are putting bids in for players.
“It’s hard to find strikers – worldwide, it is really difficult at the moment. As some of the clubs in the Premier League are finding, if they are going to get a striker they are going to have to pay a ridiculous amount of money.
“Well in this league, some of the strikers are going for ridiculous amounts of money and we don’t have ridiculous amounts of money. Instead of the first choice one that you want, you might be looking at the third or the fourth choice.
“Hopefully, there will be more attacking options in the building in the next week or two, and they will have to then settle in.
“I sit here thinking that in six or seven weeks, hopefully Ross Stewart will be playing down the middle, Bradley Dack might be playing behind him, then [Jack] Clarke and [Patrick] Roberts – it looks a pretty formidable attacking line-up.”
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