Manchester United are continuing to closely monitor Sunderland starlet Chris Rigg after dispatching scouts to watch the 17-year-old in action in the North East Derby against Middlesbrough.
Sunderland emerged as late winners in a 3-2 victory over former Red Devil Michael’s Carrick side with Rigg starting in the number ten position.
The youngster has emerged as one of the Championship’s best performers this season with the Black Cats currently fourth in the Championship, just three points off Sheffield United in the automatic promotion spot.
Only three sides have scored more times than Sunderland – a reflection of the strong attacking unit Rigg is a central figure within.
The 17-year-old has scored four goals and provided one assist in 26 league games. However, these statistics fail to capture how influential he is in possession for Sunderland.
Rigg is a brilliant technician. Despite his diminutive stature, he is a skilful dribbler with excellent close control and incisive passing.
A host of Premier League sides, including United, have registered an interest in the Sunderland youth product, who has represented England at U-15, U-16, U-17, and U-18 levels.
Rivals Crystal Palace and Brighton & Hove Albion – two sides with excellent track record of acquiring Championship talent – are reported to have considered bids for Rigg.
TalkSPORT describe the 17-year-old as the “best player to come out of the Championship since Jude Bellingham” – a player United famously missed out on from Birmingham City. And the Red Devils appear ready to ensure this mistake is not repeated.
The outlet further reports INEOS hold an interest in Rigg as a “young player available for a reasonable price with future sell-on potential” amid a fraught financial situation at Old Trafford.
However, Rigg is unlikely to be sold at a discounted price should Sunderland gain promotion at the end of the season. And even if they do not, the interest elsewhere in England’s top division ensures the North East club will be able to command a considerable fee for their starlet.
Rigg is the perfect profile as an attacking midfielder in Ruben Amorim’s 3-4-3 system, which deploys two attacking midfielders behind a centre-forward. These number tens are expected to thrive in tight spaces while retaining the speed and skill to offer a threat in behind opposition defences.
The 17-year-old midfielder is tailor made for this role, even if his tender years would suggest he is not ready to play at the Theatre of Dreams. But as Bellingham proved, if you are good enough, you are old enough.
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Darragh Fox
Darragh is a writer for The Peoples Person who spent three years as a history graduate slowly realising football was by far the most interesting thing to write about.
