“Sunderland has slim chance of keeping him” Pundit make Chris Riggs Stadium of Light future prediction following multimillion offer from PL giants.
Sunderland suffered their first defeat of the 2024/25 Championship season in a surprising 3-2 loss away to Plymouth Argyle. Despite a strong showing in attack, with Romaine Mundle standing out once again, defensive errors ultimately cost Regis Le Bris’ side at Home Park.
The Black Cats will aim to quickly recover when they face Middlesbrough, and they have the talent in midfield to do so. Players like Chris Rigg, Dan Neil, and Jobe Bellingham have been standout performers for Le Bris this season. However, there is speculation that Rigg, in particular, could leave the club soon, with a former England international weighing in on his future.
Carlton Palmer, former England international, has praised Rigg’s performances this season but hinted that a departure may be on the horizon. Speaking to *Football League World*, Palmer noted that Sunderland’s model of developing young talent and selling them on could mean Rigg’s exit if a major offer comes in. Palmer stated, “At 17, he’s already playing in the first team, which is an outstanding achievement. But if a big club comes knocking, it’s likely he’ll move on.”
Palmer added that if Sunderland were to gain promotion, they might have a better chance of retaining Rigg. However, if clubs like Real Madrid or Borussia Dortmund express interest, it would be hard for the young midfielder to resist a move.
Sunderland must begin preparing for the possibility of life without Rigg. As one of the most promising young talents in football, he will likely attract attention in both the January and summer transfer windows. While remaining at Sunderland might benefit his development with consistent first-team action, a move to a major European club could be hard to turn down.
With Sunderland’s current midfield options looking strong, Le Bris and sporting director Kristjaan Speakman need to plan ahead, either by promoting from within the academy or identifying new talent in the transfer market. Losing Rigg would be a significant blow, and Sunderland must ensure they have a plan in place if he moves on.