Chris Rigg’s Sunderland departure may be ‘inevitable’ as Premier League giants Newcastle United look to raid their North East rivals ahead of Liverpool and Chelsea.
It was seen as quite the coup when Sunderland convinced 16-year-old sensation Chris Rigg to sign a two-year scholarship deal at the Stadium of Light, given that there has never been any shortage of interest in one of the rising young stars of English football.
But with that scholarship expiring in 2025, with the teenager not yet tied down to a professional terms and with plenty of admirers in the division above, a former England international Palmer feels that Black Cats supporters should simply enjoy Rigg for as long as they can.
Newcastle United eye Sunderland starlet Chris Rigg
“I think if Chris continues as he is, and given his contract situation, it’s inevitable he will leave Sunderland sooner rather than later,” the former Leeds, Nottingham Forest and Sheffield Wednesday midfielder tells Football League World.
“Rigg is not eligible to sign a professional contract until this summer. This effectively means he could move on if a fee was agreed between clubs.”
HITC Football understands that, despite interest from Liverpool and Chelsea, Newcastle United are currently at the front of the queue. Hebburn-born Rigg might have made his name on Wearside but he and his family are big Magpies supporters.
Newcastle, meanwhile, have made a habit of signing some of the game’s most exciting young talents since that Saudi Arabian takeover, investing heavily in the likes of Tino Livramento, Alexander Isak, Yankuba Minteh, Garang Kuol, Lewis Hall and co.
17-year-old Lewis Miley is also a regular starter under Eddie Howe these days.
“Chris Rigg is pushing really hard for a starting place in our team,” former Sunderland boss Tony Mowbray told The Chronicle of the club’s youngest-ever goalscorer. “And I don’t say that lightly. He’s a 16-year-old boy.
“He knows where the goal is and wants to run forward. He’s got energy to burn and can keep running all day. He’s still a young boy but he has wonderful qualities and wonderful attributes.”
The new Jordan Henderson?
Rigg has been likened to another Sunderland academy graduate Jordan Henderson in some quarters. The former shares the latter’s energy, enthusiasm and work-rate on and off the ball.
“He trains, he runs, he tackles, he plays forward, he dribbles, he shoots…,” Mowbray also said when Rigg was still just 15.
“He’s a really good footballer.”
Rigg, who doesn’t even turn 17 until June, has made eight Championship appearances this season.
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