A number of Premier League clubs express an interest in highly rated 15 year old Sunderland player Chris Rigg, according to reports.
Alan Nixon claims that Man Utd are trying to jump into the race for the promising wonderkid, who also captains the England under 16s team, but it’s Newcastle leading the way.
Chris Rigg (pictured below on the right) was a key player in the Sunderland under 15 side that lifted the Premier League Floodlit Cup for the 2021/22 season, and Sunderland Echo report that he as been a regular in the under 23 setup this season having recovered from an injury.
🎓 @AcademyOfLight #SAFC | #BLPSUN pic.twitter.com/f16gdo3zqS
— Sunderland AFC (@SunderlandAFC) January 1, 2023
Rigg linked up with the Black Cats first-team for the first time against Birmingham City back in November, and is impressive performances have got the Prem giants watching him.
Newcastle United are is likely destination should he leave, but Everton have also been keen. Chelsea and Liverpool also previously looked at him.
Sunderland remain hopeful that he has a big part to play in the future, especially after Tony Mowbray named him in the squad for the Championship game against Blackpool on New Year’s Day alongside youngster Tom Watson. Neither came on however.
Daily Mail reporter Craig Hope also backed up the reports, stating on Saturday evening: “I’m hearing Chris Rigg (15) & Tom Watson (16) are in Sunderland’s squad for tomorrow’s game at Blackpool. Both are England youth internationals & highly sought after. Newcastle very keen on Rigg.”
Man Utd are said to have a good relationship with Sunderland, thanks to the successful loan spell their own young prospect, Amad Diallo, currently enjoying at the Stadium of Light.
It Newcastle United however who are still the side leading the race to sign Rigg as it stands.
Mowbray named the academy product Chris Rigg, not 16 until next June, amongst the subs to fill out the teamsheet, though said if circumstances had been different he may have given the midfielder his debut.
He said, as per Chronicle Live: “I never want to put a bench out at such a big football club as this with only five or six players on it – it smacks of small club, really.
“I think we should always be thinking of encouraging young players, enticing them to see that they are not that far away from our first team, so it was good to bring young Riggy up and put him on the bench. If we’d been 4-0 up there was every chance he might have got on the pitch, but it was a tight game and it wasn’t really the day for him to come on.”
Sunderland Echo add it’s just a mater time if Sunderland can tempt Rigg and his family to stay in Wearside as to how beneficial it will be for his development, with the club hoping to thrive under a new batch of prospects in years to come.
This is what social media users said with reports that a number of Premier League clubs express an interest in highly rated 15 year old Sunderland player…
@BellsyNUFC: It’s the 2nd of January and talks in the media already intensifying. Chris Rigg and Ivan Fresneda hopeful incomings with Kuol getting a loan deal in Europe. Definite indication we are making young signings for the future 🖤🤍
@caseysean51: Sunderland are on the verge of losing some very talented youth players. Chris Rigg, Dan Parker and Tom Watson all being watched by PL clubs let’s hope #NUFC can take advantage
@StephenLightley: All his family including him are black and white, he’s local. I think if we want him he signs.
@MrH_Newcastle: Nufc shouldn’t be missing these players in the first place. The academy and scouting needs overhauled
@mjsquires: His family are all massive #nufc fans
@Sandancer1977: Chris Rigg to Newcastle looks a certainty.
_evanwhalen: smashing it mate 👏👏
joshwalessgk1: My guy CR8 🐐
aaron_chungh_: Different class 🔥🔥
kian.noble: Top lad 😍
@Memecastle_Utd: Happy to see our feeder club starting to reap the benefits of our takeover. They will prove vital for us in the coming years to give our up and coming youngsters the experience they need to compete at the very top. #NUFC #SAFC
@davethemag1965: Hes a toon fan i believe so that should be an advantage
@pauljacques83: At this moment I’d be more surprised if he didn’t play on Saturday than if he did
@ian_safc_1974: Defo get minutes but can’t see them throwing him in deep end so soon
@johndavidrees: Oh the young lad at Safc who supports the toon – nice one
Phil, he is inevitably leaving and we know where. It’s his hometown club and they are clearly building for success up there.
— Eric’s Gate (@EricsGate1) January 2, 2023
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