Chris Rigg is likely to be a key player for Sunderland next season

If there was one thing we could all be really happy about during the tough final months of the 2023/2024 season, it was certainly the development of Chris Rigg from a talented prodigy to a fully-fledged Championship-class attacker.

Rigg, who recently celebrated his seventeenth birthday and is therefore eligible to sign a professional contract, was carefully managed last season (especially after scoring that memorable fifth goal against Southampton) and it was only in the closing stages of the season under the caretaker management of Mike Dodds that the young player really began to shine.

Photo by Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images

Fearlessness was the cornerstone of his game and while many of his teammates seemed to struggle with the constraints of a restrictive system and a string of results that undermined their confidence, Rigg simply played his own game and did so to superb effect.

Like a street footballer with no inhibitions, he went about his business, demanding the ball, always trying to play positively when he had it and not shying away from his defensive duties either. He was a shining light in a dark time and another example of a homegrown player taking his opportunity with aplomb.

Given the level of uncertainty at the club and the future of many of our key players, nerves may be frayed at the prospect of Rigg moving on to new pastures in the summer.

His alleged links to the Black and Whites and a possible move to Newcastle United have been the subject of discussion for some time, but it is by no means a given that we will lose Rigg to our cash-rich neighbours in Saudi Arabia – despite their financial power far exceeding ours.

As England age group captain and one of the Championship’s most promising talents alongside the likes of Leeds United’s Archie Gray, it’s easy to see why Rigg would be tempted by the lights and big cities of the Premier League heavyweights or possibly even a move abroad, as many young English talents have done in recent years.

Photo by Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images

He has big goals, his talent is enormous and given his maturity that goes far beyond his tender age, who would bet that he doesn’t have the courage to step up and make an impression in a higher league?

There is a conveyor belt of English talent that is thriving like never before and if these guys are to fulfil their potential and make an impact then they all want to be in the top flight, whether at home or abroad. Adam Wharton’s stunning rise to Crystal Palace is perhaps the best example of this in recent memory.

As Sunderland fans, we would all love to see Rigg stay on Wearside and play his part in what will hopefully be a more stable and productive 2024/2025 season. And with Regis Le Bris set to take over as head coach, no doubt everyone will be hoping that a little more clarity can convince Rigg that the Stadium of Light is the best place for him.

There is a lot to do this summer and it will not be easy to build a team that can compete strongly next season.

Photo by MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Should he stay on Wearside, Rigg’s rapid development will likely be a key factor for us, and he and Adil Aouchiche should have a good chance of supporting each other in the battle for the starting number 10 position.

If appointed as our new boss, Le Bris will hopefully be able to make the most of the attacking options at his disposal. But first and foremost, we need to get back to basics and rediscover how to win. Riggs’ obvious courage, passion for the game and determination to improve should be well suited to this.

If all goes well, Riggs’ influence and value could skyrocket next season, but there’s no denying that both the player and his agents could cite instability and uncertainty as potential reasons for a move. This isn’t unique to Sunderland, as all Championship clubs are at risk of a transfer at some point, and we’ll just have to deal with that when and if the time comes.

If he stays, all the better because he is a real footballer and someone who obviously enjoys playing for Sunderland.

Of course, our options for retaining him are limited, but the love and sustained support of over 40,000 matchday crowds at the Stadium of Light is something very few seventeen-year-old footballers have ever experienced and hopefully he will not forget that, whatever the future holds for him.