SUNDERLAND are braced for a major late push from Southampton to sign Ross Stewart, with Saints confident they can agree a deal for the striker ahead of Friday's deadline.

Southampton - who head for the Stadium of Light to play Sunderland on Saturday - have monitored Stewart's situation over the course of the summer and are now set to make their move, with an offer believed to be imminent.

Saints aren't the only club in the picture but are firm favourites to sign the 27-year-old as things stand. The Championship promotion favourites look increasingly likely to sell Che Adams ahead of Friday's deadline, with Crystal Palace linked, and have identified Stewart as their top target.

With Stewart in the final year of his contract, it was always possible that his situation would come to a head in the final stages of the window.

Only last week, head coach Tony Mowbray told of his hope that the striker could still be tempted into signing a new deal on Wearside, but an agreement wasn't close and Sunderland - and the majority other Championship clubs - can't match the spending power of Southampton.

Stewart is still injured as things stand but is closing in on a return to action. Mowbray recently revealed that Sunderland were potentially hoping that he could play in a training ground friendly game during the coming international break, with the hope that he'd then be ready to return to action at the end of next month.

But it's now looking increasingly likely that he's played his last game for Sunderland.

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Although he missed the bulk of last season through injury, Stewart still enhanced his reputation, scoring 10 goals in just 13 appearances. He hasn't played since suffering a serious Achilles injury in the FA Cup tie at Fulham in January.

The Black Cats are continuing their push to strengthen their forward line in the coming days, with Ukrainian striker Nazariy Rusyn expected to complete his move. He confirmed earlier this week that he'd agreed a four-year contract, with the option of a further 12 months.

Sunderland will also move to replace Stewart if he leaves, though obviously there'll be a race against time ahead of Friday's 11pm deadline.