Ross Stewart told he 'owes' Southampton one thing as contract situation intensifies

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Football League World

·24 February 2026

Ross Stewart told he 'owes' Southampton one thing as contract situation intensifies

Ross Stewart's Southampton contract expires in the summer, although the club do have an option to extend it by 12 months.

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

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Southampton have been told they are right to have doubts over Ross Stewart’s future, with his deal at the club set to expire in the summer as it stands.

The south coast outfit agreed a fee worth up to £10m with Sunderland for the striker back in 2023 after he had impressed for the Black Cats.

However, things haven’t gone to plan for Stewart since he arrived at St. Mary’s Stadium, as he has been restricted to just 36 appearances for Saints over the past few years due to injuries.

Southampton looking for Ross Stewart to take a wage reduction

Of course, that’s a huge frustration for the player, and you do have sympathy for the Scotsman, but there’s no denying it has been a poor deal from Southampton’s perspective.

Therefore, with Stewart’s contract expiring this summer, there are major doubts over his future, although the Championship side do have the option to trigger a 12-month extension.

It remains to be seen whether Saints activate that clause, and recent reports have indicated they would rather Stewart agree to a longer contract on reduced wages.

So, some big decisions need to be made by the club and the player, and when asked whether this was the right approach by FLW, Southampton fan pundit Martin Sanders explained why an incentive based contract could suit the club, as he also suggested Stewart’s injury issues mean he should be keen to stay and prove himself at the club.

“Stewart scored a very good goal at the weekend, he took it well. I think they’d have to adjust it (his contract). Everyone down here is saying give him a year, which would be the right thing to do. He owes the club a bit. “He has hardly played, he’s made 36 appearances, scoring six goals, but he’s an important player if you can keep him fit, which is why you would give him more (money), the more he plays, that’s what I’d do. A deal where he has an incentive to stay fit, really.”

Ross Stewart can play a key role for Southampton moving forward

When it comes to ability, there are no real doubts over Stewart at Championship level, as he has proven himself in the second tier over the past.

His brilliant header against Charlton last time out was another example of what he can do, and his all-round game is very impressive for a number nine. He can hold the ball up, bring others into play, and is the ideal focal point for Saints.

But, as we know, the reason there are doubts over Stewart is purely because of his availability, as he just hasn’t played enough football over the years.

Again, you have real sympathy for the player first and foremost, as he will have been desperate to be out on the pitch, but the reality is that Southampton have to think about what makes sense financially for them.

So, it will be interesting to see how this plays out, even if it would be a surprise if Southampton let Stewart leave on a free, considering he is an asset to the club.

There’s no rush to make a decision on that front, though, and the only concern for the player and the club will be ending the campaign on a high. If Stewart stays fit, he could make the difference as they look to finish in the top six.