Sunderland gem Chris Rigg is once again being linked with a move away from the club.
Sunderland have unearthed a real prospect in Rigg, who at just 16 years old is being linked with some of Europe’s top clubs.
Over the past 12 months, all of Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Newcastle United have been mentioned alongside the attacker.
But more recent reports suggest that German duo Bayern Leverkusen and Borussia Dortmund are taking a keen interest in Rigg.
The Sun claim that both teams are weighing up summer moves for Rigg who is yet to sign a professional contract with the Black Cats.
Earlier reports suggested that Rigg had an agreement in place to sign pro terms with Sunderland upon his 17th birthday next month.
It’s also claimed by The Northern Echo that Manchester United are considering a summer bid for Rigg.
But it’s Germany where Rigg appears to be most closely linked right now, and here’s how the German media is reacting to the news that Rigg is fancied by Leverkusen and Dortmund…
To Sancho and Bellingham: Dortmund is chasing the next England prodigy
German national outlet Bild has covered Dortmund’s interest in Rigg, suggesting that he could follow in the footsteps of names like Jadon Sancho and Jude Bellingham.
Sancho joined Dortmund in 2017 as a 17-year-old, arguably kick-starting the trend of English youngsters heading abroad to cut their teeth.
He left the Manchester City youth ranks and four years later would return to Manchester, this time with United, in a £73million deal.
Bellingham meanwhile left Birmingham City for Dortmund in 2020, then going to Real Madrid in 2023 for an initial fee of £88million.
BVB is competing with FC Bayern when it comes to high-flyers in England
Sport.de writes about the ‘poker game’ unfolding where Rigg is concerned, given the amount of top teams trying to poach him from Sunderland this summer.
This report also plays on the fact that Rigg plays with Jobe Bellingham; obviously the younger brother of Jude who went and made his name with Borussia Dortmund.
Sport.de describe Rigg as ‘one of the most promising talents in England’ and a ‘high-flyer’ in football, after making 21 Championship outings for Sunderland in 2023/24, scoring twice and becoming the club’s youngest-ever league goal scorer.
England high-flyers: BVB is competing with Bayern
And Bayern Munich fan website FCB Inside has covered the story, but this article has focussed on the decreasing chances of Bayern Munich being able to sign Rigg this summer.
Bayern Munich have long been linked with Rigg now. But the likes of Dortmund joining the race may only serve to lessen Bayern’s chances of a summer swoop for the Sunderland teenager.
That, and the fact that numerous reports now have suggested that Rigg sees his development best-served at a club where he’s playing regular first-team football, i.e. Sunderland.