Man Utd prepare offer for 'next Bellingham'

Jacque Talbot

• Updated: 25 Oct 2024 14:03 BST
• 3 min read

Manchester United may be gearing up to pursue Sunderland’s promising midfielder, Chris Rigg, according to reports.

The club are keen thought to be weighing up an offer for the Sunderland man who has drawn comparisons to Jude Bellingham.

GiveMeSport has revealed that United scouts have been keeping a close eye on Rigg, viewing him as a top prospect to join their squad. Since Sir Jim Ratcliffe acquired a minority stake in United in February, the club has shifted its recruitment approach with a focus on young English talent who can develop above all else.

Last summer, the club signed teenage prospects Leny Yoro, Chido Obi Martin, and Sekou Kone, alongside young talents Joshua Zirkzee and Manuel Ugarte.

United’s season hasn’t started as planned, with the team currently positioned mid-table in the Premier League. But the Ineos project is for the long-term and so there is no reason for them to panic just yet.

Rigg has surfaced as a leading candidate for this strategy, thanks to his impressive displays in the Championship, where he’s helping Sunderland remain competitive at the top of the table under Regis Le Bris.

The teenager is viewed by United scouts as a “high-ceiling” talent who aligns well with their homegrown player objectives. If he joins, he could potentially form a dynamic midfield partnership with United’s rising star Kobbie Mainoo.

Chris Rigg at Sunderland

Rigg became Sunderland’s second-youngest player of all time when he made his senior debut against Shrewsbury Town at just 15 years and 203 days old.

Later that year, Rigg became Sunderland’s youngest-ever goalscorer when he netted versus Crewe Alexandra in the Carabao Cup, becoming the youngest player to score in the competition’s history in the process.

After Rigg’s match-winning goal against Middlesbrough, he was showered with praise by new Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris.

“Chris Rigg is a good symbol of what we want to create and what we want to build as a team and as a club,” the Frenchman said.

“"I don’t think age is a problem. You can have a high level of maturity at 17 and you can have a low level of maturity at 30.

“It depends on the player’s personality. Chris still wants to improve, he still wants to understand the game.

“Chris has this character, this personality to play whatever the circumstances so I like that. He is also a very good team-mate so he is a very good symbol for us.”