West Ham United are preparing to pursue Sunderland prodigy Chris Rigg this summer if Regis Le Bris’ team fails to secure Premier League promotion.
According to Alan Nixon’s Patreon post on Sunday, the Hammers are hoping to recruit Rigg, who is known to want to play in the Premier League.
With the Black Cats preparing for a Championship play-off campaign, Rigg might achieve his goal with his hometown club as early as next season. However, if Sunderland does not get promoted, it appears that their 17-year-old star will be leaving the Stadium of Light.
However, it is understood that the East London team does not agree with Sunderland’s £20 million valuation of its academy graduate.
Given his international ambitions, Rigg is understandably interested in a move to the Premier League.
He has already established himself as a crucial member of England’s under-19 squad, but was left out of the starting lineup last week, with Newcastle’s Lewis Miley and Fulham’s Joshua King picked over the Sunderland player.
With that in mind, it appears that Rigg will make the step up to the top division at some point in the near future, as has been the case with several of the EFL’s best young players.
However, if West Ham is to complete a deal this summer, they may need to make a compromise. Despite Sunderland’s valuation of their young star at £20 million, the Hammers are said to see him as a £10 million player instead.
