SUNDERLAND are attempting to push through the signing of Ross County striker Ross Stewart – with Lee Johnson adamant Will Grigg will not be leaving Wearside unless a deal for a replacement centre-forward is already in place.

Grigg has verbally agreed to join Shrewsbury Town on loan, but Johnson will not be sanctioning the Northern Irishman’s departure until he already has a new striker of his own in place, with Stewart currently topping the Black Cats’ wanted list.

The 24-year-old joined Ross County in 2018 after failing to make a breakthrough at St Mirren, and has scored 28 goals in 81 appearances for the Scottish Premier League club.

He has claimed six goals in the current campaign, and while Ross County officials have accepted he is likely to move ahead of Monday night’s transfer deadline, they are determined to get the best deal possible and have slapped a £500,000 price tag on his head.

Sunderland are keen to negotiate that asking price down, with talks currently ongoing between the two clubs.

“Ross seems quite happy to be here for the rest of the season, as would we be,” said Ross County manager Jon Hughes. “But if a club comes in with a bid of £500,000, then we have a decision to make.”

Sunderland have also held discussions over Hibernian forward Kevin Nisbet, but at this stage, a deal for Stewart is regarded as a more likely proposition ahead of Monday’s deadline.

Grigg’s departure will help create some leeway in terms of the salary cap, even if Sunderland end up paying a proportion of the 29-year-old wages in the second half of the campaign.

Grigg has been a peripheral figure all season, starting just four league games, but while Johnson agrees it would be best for everyone if he was start rebuilding his confidence away from Wearside, he will only allow him to leave if other deals fall into place.

“I think Will Grigg is a really good player, there’s no denying that, but I’ve been consistent in what I’ve said and I currently see Will as one of four of our centre-forwards,” said Johnson. “We have had the conversations and the rule has been set very clear – I’m very happy to have him in the squad.

“If he deems that he wants to get away to recapture his form and have that consistent guaranteed playing time, then we won’t stand in his way as long as the deal is right for us and we’ve got a viable replacement that we believe can impact our season. Will I let Will leave without that replacement in place? No.”

As well as looking to recruit a new forward, Johnson is also hoping to make additions in another couple of areas before the transfer window swings shut.

Left-back remains a priority position, with Denver Hume sidelined through injury and Dion Sanderson having established himself as more of a centre-half than an auxiliary full-back.

“I’m confident we’ll get at least one in, but hopefully two and ideally three,” said Johnson. “The more we move to the twos and threes, then of course there’s going to have to be movement, and we’re certainly on it.

“We’ve had to do it, in this window, generally on our own contacts and knowledge, without an in-depth recruitment department currently in the club. But saying that, there’s been some excellent names on the list. Some fall away, which is the nature of the beast, and some are still there, and they’re the ones we’re trying to attack now.”

Sunderland return to action when they host Gillingham on Saturday, with Bailey Wright a major doubt after suffering concussion in the midweek win at Ipswich.

“Bailey was mildly concussed, which means we have to conform to the concussion protocol,” said Johnson. “We have to take him through a series of tests mentally, and also with the doctor physically as well. Saturday may well be too soon for him regarding that protocol, but at the same time, we will leave it open to the doctor’s opinions.”