Sunderland could see youngster Chris Rigg move to West Ham United in the summer transfer window, according to reports – with journalist Alan Nixon stating that the Hammers will look to land a deal for the prodigy if the Wearsiders can’t earn promotion to the top-flight by the end of the campaign.
Rigg, just 17, already has 61 appearances for Sunderland in what has been a glittering start to his career, nabbing seven goals and an assist in that time.
But that’s tempted the interest of Premier League clubs – and it’s seen the side from the capital become interested in his talents.
The report by Alan Nixon, on his Patreon, states that West Ham are ready to move for Sunderland starlet Rigg – only if he doesn’t make the Premier League jump with the northeast outfit.
Rigg is keen to feature in the top-flight, and hopes that he will be able to do so with Sunderland by playing his part in a potential promotion this season, with the Black Cats primed for a play-off spot in the Championship.
However, West Ham are showing a growing interest in the young playmaker, who would be an ‘ideal’ addition given his homegrown status – and Graham Potter could look to do a deal for the Black Cats youngster, who has been called ‘seriously talented’ for his performances for England in midweek.
Sunderland are thought to want a fee in the region of £20million for their homegrown starlet, which is a similar price to which they sold Jack Clarke to Ipswich Town for last summer – though it remains to be seen if West Ham will meet that, with the Hammers seeing the youngster in the £10million category.
GIVEMESPORT Key Statistic: Chris Rigg has 36 youth caps for England’s youth teams, scoring five goals.
Rigg made his Sunderland debut aged just 15 in the Championship, and he’s slowly but surely become a regular part of Regis Le Bris’ season as Sunderland look to qualify for the play-offs for the second time in three years.
But having been left out of the England under-19’s lineup with two Premier League starlets being chosen ahead of him last week, Nixon believes that any failure to earn promotion could force Rigg’s hand to be in the top-flight of English football.
