More prolific than Isidor: Sunderland eye up summer move for Stewart 2.0
da bet7： Sunderland had to make do with a share of the spoils against Preston North End last time out as returning hero Romaine Mundle delivered the goods to secure Regis Le Bris’ men a 1-1 draw.
da roleta： That keeps the Black Cats’ unbeaten stretch on their own patch in March in-tact, but their resolve will be tested significantly away at Frank Lampard’s Coventry City up next in the Championship, who occupy a playoff spot alongside the promotion-aspiring Wearside outfit.
If promotion was to be sealed at the end of the long, dramatic campaign, Le Bris would look to improve his side all over the pitch ahead of the challenge of the Premier League, with a deal already allegedly being eyed up to bring a sharpshooter to the Stadium of Light.
Sunderland eyeing deal for Stewart 2.0
As per a recent report by journalist Graeme Bailey, the Black Cats are now looking towards the services of Hearts star Lawrence Shankland this approaching summer, with his future up in the air at Tynecastle at this moment in time.
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Indeed, the Hearts marksman is yet to pen a contract to keep him at the Edinburgh side past the end of this season, with Ipswich Town also in the race now to land the 29-year-old, knowing they could now land him for nothing. That would be a great deal considering his previous £5m price-tag.
Sunderland will pray that they are the winning suitor here, with the Championship promotion candidates well aware of how successful pick-ups can be from Scotland, having once obtained ex-hero Ross Stewart from Ross County.
Arguably, Le Bris’ men have never replaced Stewart effectively, with Shankland also showing throughout his stay in the Scottish capital and beyond that he’s an even deadlier finisher than Wilson Isidor at his prime.
Why Shankland is more clinical than Isidor
Last season in total, which included a calmly taken goal being slotted away right at the start of 2024, Shankland would end up firing home a mightily impressive 31 strikes from 47 clashes.
Whilst his French counterpart does better Shankland’s goal haul when considering only this campaign in isolation – with the Glasgow-born forward only helping himself to four goals from 34 contests compared to Isidor’s heftier 14 – the 29-year-old’s blistering record in his native country overall away from this lacklustre season currently unfolding speaks for itself.
Shankland’s G/A record in Scotland
Club played for
Games
Goals
Assists
Hearts
128
63
21
Ayr United
74
63
24
Dundee United
74
40
9
St. Mirren
55
14
7
Queen’s Park
43
14
2
Morton
18
4
1
Aberdeen
17
0
1
Dunfermline
14
7
0
Sourced by Transfermarkt
As can be seen looking at the table above, Shankland has proven himself to be a goal machine up and down the various Scottish divisions, with a staggering 205 strikes coming his way playing for a whole host of different clubs.
To add more context, Isidor – away from enjoying a purple patch under Le Bris in England – only boasts 60 career goals, reinforcing the notion that Shankland is far more clinical than the Black Cats number 18.
Moreover, Shankland’s standout goal record blows Stewart’s prior exploits in Scotland out of the water before his major switch to the EFL giants occurred, with the now Southampton attacker only registering 52 strikes for the likes of Alloa Athletic and Ross County ahead of taking that leap.
Of course, there will be a worry that the Hearts striker’s confidence will be dented somewhat by his barren patches of form this campaign, but if he can recapture his “ruthless” best – as he’s been labelled previously by Chris Sutton – he could go down as an inspired capture by Le Bris and Co.
After all, it will be a risk-free move if Sunderland can snap up the 29-year-old for nothing when his Hearts contract expires, leaving them with some top options in attack whether promotion is clinched or not.
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