Sunderland AFC: Chris Rigg should only have one thought amid Nott'm Forest, Man United interest | OneFootball

Rigg should be looking to stay where he currently is for at least the remainder of the 2024/25 campaign.

Chris Rigg will be delighted with the amount of game time he's getting at Sunderland.

He may have struggled for time on the pitch at different points last season, with the player not having a proper opportunity to make an impact under Mick Beale.

But he will just be focusing on the present and the near future - and things look promising for the youngster at this stage.

At just 17, he has become a regular starter under current boss Regis Le Bris during the 2024/25 campaign and has been able to retain his position on merit, with his contributions in the final third helping him to stay a key part of the Black Cats' plans.

Goals against the likes of Middlesbrough and Leeds United have helped the club to win extra points - and he looks set to continue being a key player for the foreseeable future.

If he can continue to secure plenty more game time ahead of the January transfer window, that could see plenty of teams make a bid for him when 2025 comes around, providing the Wearside outfit with a tricky task in their likely quest to retain the player.

However, the teenager's contract doesn't expire until the summer of 2027 and this puts the Black Cats' hierarchy in a strong position to demand a sizeable amount for the talented midfielder.

It has been reported by Football Insider that the Championship side are set to demand between £20m-£30m for the player, which is a sizeable amount for a player who doesn't have that much senior experience under his belt at this point, despite making an impressive number of appearances considering his age.

Manchester United and Nottingham Forest among teams keen on Chris Rigg

A number of teams have been linked with a move for Rigg in recent months - and that's no surprise considering how much he has shone since the start of the 2024/25 campaign.

Manchester United are the team that have been most heavily linked with a move for the teenager - and former scout Mick Brown recently told Football Insider that the Red Devils are watching him almost weekly.

United are also thought to have a good relationship with the Black Cats and that could help them to get a deal over the line.

Chelsea and Real Madrid are two other teams that reportedly hold an interest in the midfielder, along with Birmingham City and Everton.

Nottingham Forest are one of the teams that have been linked with a move for the 17-year-old most recently, with the Reds believed to be pursuing deals for both Rigg and his teammate Tommy Watson, who is also a very promising player.

Chris Rigg should take firm stance amid Sunderland exit links

Rigg could be attracted to the idea of moving to a top-tier club, but he could easily be competing in the Premier League with the Black Cats next season, considering how well they are doing currently.

If the teenager can stay fit, he could have a big say in whether they stay in the promotion mix or not, so he needs to focus purely on what's happening on the pitch to maximise his team's chances of success.

Even if the Black Cats drop down to a lower position in the coming months, he shouldn't be considering the possibility of leaving Wearside if he continues to start regularly, because he isn't guaranteed to get this game time elsewhere.

Currently thriving under his current manager, it would be a risky decision to move on, and it's a risky decision that he doesn't need to take if the Black Cats don't try and push him out of the exit door.

Judging by their tough stance, it doesn't look as though that will be happening anytime soon, so Rigg shouldn't be under any real pressure to leave the Stadium of Light.

Le Bris has shown plenty of faith in the youngster - and he needs to repay this faith by staying put beyond the end of January - something that should help to aid his development.

Thankfully, he seems to be a level-headed character, and that has probably allowed him to be such a success during the very early stages of his senior career.