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HITC understands that the interest in Sunderland’s Chris Rigg is intensifying with clubs now regarding him as one of the best young talents in Europe.
Rigg has started the season in fine style for Sunderland and the 17-year-old is now widely recognised as one of English football’s outstanding players.
The Black Cats have made a 100% start to the new Championship season, scoring ten goals from four matches and only conceding once.
Midfielder Rigg has started three of those matches, playing as an attacking midfielder, including a win over recently-relegated Burnley.
Chris Rigg is the young talent since Jude Bellingham
HITC has been told by scouts working with two of Europe’s top clubs that they regard Rigg as ‘the best young English player since Jude Bellingham’.
The England international came through the ranks at Birmingham City, before moving to Dortmund and then getting a dream transfer to Real Madrid.
Bellingham won the Champions League with Madrid last season and is being backed by some to win this year’s Ballon d’Or.
Rigg signed his first professional deal with Sunderland in the summer when he turned 17, rejecting overtures from a number of Premier League clubs, including rivals Newcastle United and Manchester United.
Now, HITC can reveal that the interest that Rigg is garnering is growing every week.
English clubs think he has a huge future and is likely to be the next big-money Championship departure following the likes of Adam Wharton and Archie Gray.
Wharton, who was part of England’s Euro 2024 squad this summer, joined Crystal Palace in January and made an instant impact in the Premier League.
On the other hand, Gray left Leeds United and joined Tottenham this summer after his boyhood club missed out on promotion to the Premier League.
Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid watching Chris Rigg
However, unlike Wharton and Gray – Rigg’s big move may not be to the Premier League, as HITC can confirm that Borussia Dortmund are looking at him to potentially follow in the footsteps of Bellingham – who they signed from Birmingham when he was 17.
HITC understands that Dortmund believe that the route they could offer Rigg could be a huge draw.
Fellow German outfit RB Leipzig are also keeping close tracks on Rigg along with Vincent Kompany’s Bayern Munich.
Real Madrid have also been watching Rigg for over 12 months and are monitoring his progress
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