Sunderland boss Alex Neil expects Rangers target Ross Stewart to stay at the Stadium of Light if they earn promotion to the English Championship via the play-offs.
Former Hamilton Accies boss Neil intends to steer the Black Cats into the promotion play-offs over their remaining five games, and says that's his entire focus, rather than players' contracts. Sunderland are currently sixth, heading into Friday night's clash against Shrewsbury.
Stewart, 25, who with 22 goals is joint-leading League One scorer, will move into the final year of his Sunderland contract this summer, with Rangers, Norwich City and Swansea City reportedly interested in signing him.
Neil says the former Ross County and Albion Rovers striker is doing well, but that's because Sunderland have given him a platform to do so.
And the Northern Echo says Neil feels that while Stewart - who earned his first Scotland senior call-up last month - is more likely to sign an extension if they earn promotion, he isn't thinking about contracts at the moment.
They report that Stewart is enjoying his time at the Stadium of Light and hasn't indicated an intention to move on.
And Neil told them: "I've got bigger things to concern myself about than trying to keep a player happy, who's got his own objectives in his career.
"The simple fact is, I've got the Sunderland fans, the Sunderland community and the Sunderland club as a whole to concern myself with.
"Ross has done really well for us, but the simple fact is that if we can continue to make progress and get ourselves out of this league then naturally players will want to be here and play here. It really is as simple as that.
"The simple fact is that he's our contracted player. He's done well, but he's done well because he's been given a chance at this club.
"I'm sure he will be respectful of that as well.
"But I'm not going into the remaining games worrying that if I don't win them, or we don't win them. then Ross might see his future elsewhere.
"I don't think about that with any of the players, it doesn't even cross my mind at the moment."
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