Sunderland star Chris Rigg has growing interest from overseas.
During the summer transfer window, before Chris Rigg signed a new Sunderland contract, he had links to some of Europe’s top teams.
The 17-year-old is now under contract at the Stadium of Light until 2027. But his impressive start to the 2024/25 Championship season has kept him in transfer headlines it seems.
Recent reports claim that European giants Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid are tracking the Englishman, who’s started the last three league games for the Black Cats.
Rigg has become a key player for Sunderland this season under Regis Le Bris, who’s been told that Sunderland need to earn promotion to keep Rigg by BBC pundit Simon Pryde.
Another BBC pundit in Marco Gabbiadini has now given his take on the emerging interest in Rigg and what the future might hold for the youngster.
And former Sunderland man Gabbiadini has highlighted a potential transfer pitfall that Sunderland may run into where a possible exit for Rigg is concerned.
- READ MORE: The Plymouth Argyle player that Kristjaan Speakman and Sunderland may watch closely next weekend
Marco Gabbiadini verdict on Chris Rigg at Sunderland mid Real Madrid links
Speaking on Total Sport, Gabbiadini gave his verdict on Rigg’s link to Real Madrid and Dortmund.
And Gabbiadini highlighted a potential worry for Sunderland in that they’re currently a Championship side, meaning that Rigg is a Championship player.
Often times, players with experience at the top level of their respective country’s league system can command a higher transfer fee, so for Sunderland, they may be limited in the amount that can realistically charge for Rigg.
Gabbiadini explained: “Anyone who’s played football at a decent level, in the top five or six leagues in Europe, they’re worth upwards of £40-£50million now, maybe if they’ve played international football as well.
“So if you can get a player like Rigg for £10million, £15million, or even £20million with add-ons, it’s a huge saving for these clubs.”
Sunderland facing race against the clock over Chris Rigg future
Gabbiadini certainly makes a good point.
If Sunderland don’t earn promotion this season, then come next summer Rigg would still be a Championship player, and realistically worth no more than £20million.
But if the Black Cats can get promoted, then whether or not Rigg has even played in the Premier League, his transfer value surely goes up.
Then if Rigg can play a season in the top flight and perform well, we’re all of a sudden talking about a £40million player, like Gabbiadini suggests.
So for Sunderland and the club’s owners, where Rigg and indeed many of their other in demand players are concerned, there certainly seems like there’s a race to earn promotion, so that their players can fulfil their transfer value.