Southampton may regret Ross Stewart U-turn, but there are 2 big upsides too | OneFootball

Football League World looks at some pros and cons to Ross Stewart returning to Southampton this summer

Southampton's summer window thus far has seen the squad that Tonda Eckert led to a 19-game unbeaten run to end the campaign remain untouched for the most part.

The Saints were rightly praised in 2026 for the sheer quality in depth that they had, which allowed them to charge up the Championship table while also mounting a run to the FA Cup semi-finals, where they took a shock lead against Manchester City before losing 2-1.

After their campaign ended in disgrace following their expulsion from the play-off final after being found guilty of illegally spying on Middlesbrough's training session before the semi-final first leg, there were some worries that some personnel would make the step-up to the top flight without them.

However, both Daniel Peretz and Cyle Larin made their loan moves permanent, while the Saints have also added Lewis Dobbin and, thus far, have kept the likes of Leo Scienza, Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Casper Jander on their books.

The one player that Tonda Eckert will have wanted to keep at the club, who did leave, though, was Ross Stewart, after the Scotsman was unable to agree a contract extension with the club.

But, after a month of being a free agent, the 30-year-old is still without a new club, and the German boss admitted on July 17 that he's still in contact with Stewart, who could find his way back to St Mary's before the new season begins in a little over two weeks.

Here are some factors which could sway Southampton towards making that contract U-turn, and a couple that would make them want to stay away.

Con 1 — Ross Stewart's extensive injury record at Southampton

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Stewart left Southampton this summer following the expiry of his initial contract, which he signed in 2023. In the three seasons he spent at St Mary's, the Scotsman played just 50 times in all competitions, an average of just over 16 games a year.

The Saints paid at least £8 million for his services up front when they signed him from Sunderland, so he cost the club £160,000 per appearance, which, ultimately, isn't the greatest output. If the full £12 million was paid, that number goes up to £240,000.

So, the Scotman hasn't been reliable enough to stay on the pitch for large parts of his time on the South Coast, picking up lengthy injuries in all three years. Even this year, a hamstring injury kept him out for three months from October to January.

Pro 1 — Southampton nursed him to fitness in January, and kept him fit for 2026

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That being said, there is some hope now that, after some gruelling times on the sidelines with Achilles and hamstring issues, those injuries are finally behind him, as he maintained his fitness throughout the remainder of the 2025/26 campaign.

Stewart was only absent from matchday squads four times in all competitions from his return against Middlesbrough on January 4 to the play-off semi-final win over the same opponents on May 12.

In 33 games this season, the 30-year-old has netted 11 times. The majority of those appearances have been off the bench, too, so it's evident that, when fit, Stewart is a dangerous striker at Championship level and would provide quality depth behind Larin next year.

Con 2 - Ross Stewart declined an extension in June - is his heart fully with Southampton?

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It was revealed that Southampton attempted to exercise an option to extend Stewart's contract for another year, but due to their expulsion from the play-offs, they missed the expiry date of the clause.

However, if the 30-year-old wanted to stay at St Mary's, it likely would have been a straightforward extension, as the decision-makers at the club evidently wanted to keep him.

Owner Dragan Solak reportedly said that it was up to "Ross and his team to basically decide whether they want to stay or not," and the decision was ultimately made to part ways.

Saints fans, like any other football fans, will have a desire to see players at the club who want to play for the badge, and if Stewart was happy to look elsewhere this summer, a return once he's played the field and not found a 'better' destination may not sit right with some of those in the stands at St Mary's.

Pro 2 - A Ross Stewart return will tick a recruitment box and ensure continuity in the Southampton squad

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When questioned about whether he was still in touch with Stewart, Tonda Eckert said that it was "very clear" that Southampton needed a second striker this summer, before waxing lyrical about his goal return and the way they managed him in the second half of last season.

If the Saints need a new frontman, bringing back the 30-year-old on a free transfer would not only tick that recruitment box, but it would ensure that no extra money would need to be spent on a replacement.

Plus, with Southampton hopefully set to go again with almost the exact same personnel at the club in the 2026/27 campaign (albeit Tonda Eckert's future is still unknown), then having Stewart back in the fold would be a no-brainer to ensure that continuity.