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Published November 22, 2024 5:59pm Updated November 22, 2024 6:00pm
Manchester United are ‘seriously interested’ in signing England wonderkid Chris Rigg but face competition from a Premier League rival.
Since Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s minority takeover of the Red Devils, the club have focused more efforts into acquiring the best up and coming talents.
Over the summer, they won the race for Leny Yoro, 19, and poached scoring sensation Chido Obi-Martin, 16, from Arsenal’s academy.
Rigg has been on their radar since the beginning of 2023 when he was just 15, and their desire to buy the now 17-year-old has only grown stronger, with other clubs circling.
The Times report hat both United and Crystal Palace have ‘serious interest’ in the attacking midfielder who, despite his tender age, is already a key member of Sunderland’s first-team.
United considered making a bid last summer but that was put on hold when Rigg penned a new three-year contract with his boyhood club.
The England U18 star has three goals in 14 Championship appearances so far this season, helping the Black Cats to the top of the table.
While United are not expected to make any big moves in the January transfer window, a transfer for Rigg next summer is very much on the cards.
That could change though if Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris can convince Rigg and fellow wonderkid Jobe Bellingham – brother of England and Real Madrid superstar Jude – to stay at the Stadium of Light.
‘I am sure other clubs are noticing the players we have, but it is better that way, it means you are doing well,’ Le Bris recently said.
‘They are very young, and they are playing very well. I think it is important for them to be here until the challenge is not high enough for them.
‘Probably, when they feel that they need something more to develop, that should be the right moment to leave, but at the minute, for both players, I think they are still in the right zone for their career development.
‘They need to play, and they need to learn. They need to learn about playing in a collective style, so for them, I think the culture we have here is still working for them. I think the graph of their learning is still going up at a good level.’
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