Sunderland have unearthed a real star in Chris Rigg, but the youngster can go even further according to his manager, Regis Le Bris.
With Sunderland flying high in the Championship this season, it’s natural that a lot of their players are under the spotlight this season.
One name has stood out more than most, though, and that is 17-year-old prodigy, Chris Rigg. The Sunderland academy graduate has been a revelation, and has an incredibly high ceiling of potential.
Rigg has already been mooted for a ‘huge’ move away from Sunderland, but while he’s still at the Stadium of Light, Regis Le Bris wants to see more from the youngster.
- READ MORE: Three Sunderland decisions that Regis Le Bris has got right this season, and two he’s got wrong
Chris Rigg needs to build more connections in the team
Speaking on the Essential EFL podcast, Le Bris discussed the progress Rigg has made and cited a couple of players in the Sunderland squad who have really helped get the most out of the young midfielder.
“It is really impressive, the way he can repeat performances game after game,” Le Bris said. “Before training this team, it was hard to predict the way they would connect with each other and with the model we play. But Rigg connected well with Trai [Hume] and Patrick [Roberts]; a connection and relationship between not one but three players.”
Le Bris needs more from Rigg, though, and has tasked the teenager with forming more of those successful relationships on the pitch.
“We have individuals but more importantly it’s how we connect to create something new. Rigg is a great example of this; he is 30-40% better when he plays with Patrick. When he’s connected he’s really impressive. We need more of those connections.”
Chris Rigg destined for the very top
It is quite incredible for a player so young to break into the first-team at this level and become as influential as Rigg has, but a lot of that is not just down to his talent but also his attitude and maturity.
If he keeps up his current trajectory, there is no doubt he will become a top player, and he will surely end up strutting his stuff in the Premier League. Whether he does that with Sunderland or not, though, remains to be seen.
| Statistic | Chris Rigg 2024/25 (all competitions) |
|---|---|
| Appearances | 16 |
| Minutes played | 1,250 |
| Goals | 3 |
| Progressive carries per 90 | 1.69 |
| Pass completion % | 75.4 |
| Shot-creating actions per 90 | 2.92 |
| Tackles won per 90 | 0.80 |
| Successful take-on % | 43.8 |
Apparently, Manchester United are watching Chris Rigg almost every week, and the Red Devils are just one of the massive clubs keeping tabs on the Sunderland star. There has even been talk of Real Madrid considering a shock move for Rigg.
Either way, it seems likely Rigg will leave Sunderland in 2025 if promotion is not achieved this season. But, it is clear Rigg himself will be crucial to their chances of achieving that dream, and the fact he can still get even better is a very exciting thought indeed.