Chris Rigg told to leave Sunderland and make £30m Newcastle United switch

Chris Rigg told to leave Sunderland and make £30m Newcastle United switch

Former Premier League defender Carlton Palmer believes Chris Rigg is “destined for the top” but questioned whether Newcastle United can unsettle their bitter rivals. Sunderland have nurtured Rigg since 2012 – when he was just five.

The midfielder would go on to become the club’s youngest-ever player a decade later. Born in Hebburn, Rigg and his family are understood to be lifelong Newcastle fans despite the red-and-white connection. The now 17-year-old has captained England at youth level and is widely regarded as the Black Cats’ best academy product since Jordan Henderson.

 

 

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Manchester United and Borussia Dortmund have also been linked with the prodigy in recent months. Various sources have suggested £30million is Sunderland’s asking price – but former defender Palmer set the price higher. Speaking to Football League World,

the ex-Red Devil was unsure whether Newcastle could strike a deal with their arch-enemy. Palmer said: “I know some Sunderland fans would see that as a betrayal, but Newcastle are doing really well under Eddie Howe. He’s done a fantastic job. Newcastle have been chasing Chris Rigg for a long time.

“They were interested in getting him before he signed his first professional contract at Sunderland. For me, he is the outstanding youngster in the Championship. No disrespect to Newcastle United, but Chris Rigg will be bound for a top club either in the UK or in Europe.

” “I think he’s destined for the top of the game, if he continues to make the progress and the strides that he is doing. You never know, if Newcastle come up with the money, but have they got that type of money to come up with now? 50 or 60 million pounds for a player?

“So, (playing for Newcastle) ‘in the future’ could mean way, way down the line in the future. He’d certainly go straight into the first team, and the development would go on. When you play for any club, and then go to a club that are their rivals, then of course the supporters aren’t going to be happy. I don’t see that happening with Rigg in the near future.”

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