Premier League Crystal Palace are plotting a £20m move for 17-year-old Sunderland starlet Chris Rigg, who has become a regular feature in the Black Cats’ starting 11 this season.
That’s according to The Sun, who also claim that Palace have watched the Black Cats teenager on several occasions this term, while Eagles sporting director Dougie Freedman believes the youngster will prove good enough for the top flight.
Interest from Palace in one of the Championship’s most exciting talents should not come as a surprise, given the fact that the south London club swooped for Blackburn Rovers academy product Adam Wharton last January in a move worth £18m.
Wharton excelled after making the switch to the Premier League last winter, and his performances at Selhurst Park earned him a spot in Gareth Southgate’s England squad which reached the Euro 2024 final.
Rigg broke into the Sunderland side last season and has established himself as a regular fixture under Regis Le Bris in the current campaign – aiding the Black Cats in their promotion push.
| Chris Rigg 2023/24 Championship stats | |
|---|---|
| Appearances | 21 |
| Starts | 8 |
| Goals | 2 |
| Assists | 0 |
Sunderland fan pundit reacts to Crystal Palace interest in Rigg
Football League World asked our Black Cats fan pundit, Jay Woodhead, if he could see Rigg being tempted by the prospect of a move to Palace.
He said: “I can’t see Rigg being tempted to move to Palace at all, if I’m honest.
“I think he knows he’s got a good opportunity at Sunderland at the minute, and he’s getting regular game time and things like that.
“I do think he could be subject to a move later on down the line.
“I don’t think that he’s going to be looking at anything just yet.
“Obviously, last year we had a few people after him as well, your Man United’s and Newcastle and things like that.
“But, I can’t see him being tempted for a move to Palace.
“But, who knows what, after January, mainly the end of the season will bring?
“At the minute, I think he’s firmly, I think his heart’s with Sunderland, and I think he’ll continue to wear red and white.”
Rigg appears unlikely to move in January
While Palace could be keen to try and lure the 17-year-old to Selhurst Park once the transfer window opens this January, in an attempt to emulate their deal for Wharton last season, Rigg should not be tempted into making a move to the Premier League just yet.
The Black Cats are in the race for automatic promotion this season and the teenager looks set for a central role.
With this in mind, there is every chance that Le Bris’ men could be playing Premier League football themselves by next season.
There is serious steel about the Black Cats this season, while Rigg has been a regular feature for the North East side this term, and is gaining invaluable experience at such a young age.
Should the talented midfielder make a Premier League move this January, he would likely see his game time decrease, perhaps even dramatically.
However, the Black Cats’ chances of retaining Rigg beyond the current campaign could hinge on whether they do in fact earn promotion come the end of the season, as there is no shortage of potential suitors in his services.
According to Football Insider, Manchester United are sending scouts to track the youngster’s progress at the Stadium of Light every week, which could indicate that a big move away from the North East is on the starlet’s horizons.
For now, Rigg should be more than content with the number of minutes he is playing at Championship level this season, but given the interest in his signature, he will likely have one eye on securing Premier League football for next term, whether that’s with the Black Cats or not.
