Manchester United prepare formal offer for Sunderland teenager | OneFootball

Manchester United are set to table a formal offer for Sunderland teenager Chris Rigg.

That is according to The Northern Echo, with Rigg’s future expected to be one of the key narratives on Wearside this summer.

Sunderland are believed to be trying to persuade the talented 16-year-old to sign his first professional contract at the Stadium of Light. They are up against it, though, with England’s biggest club expressing an interest in signing Rigg.

Rigg signed a two-year scholarship deal with Sunderland last summer, but FA rules mean he cannot sign his first professional deal until after his 17th birthday, which falls on June 18. It remains to be seen if United will take advantage of that this summer.

However, the report claims Sunderland officials have discussed the potential terms of a professional deal with Rigg and his representatives. They are hopeful he will remain at the club.

Rigg finished the season with eight starts in the Championship on top of 13 substitute appearances. That is how he caught the eye of United and we can only imagine that there is interest from other clubs too.

Newcastle and Arsenal are known to be ‘extremely interested’ in securing his signature. There has been linked to Bundesliga duo Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen, too.

Scott Wilson reports: “At this stage, however, it is Manchester United that are poised to make the strongest move for Rigg, with the teenager understood to figure prominently in the new Old Trafford regime’s attempts to overhaul their academy set-up and begin rivalling the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City in the battle for the best domestic teenage talent.”

He adds that if United make a formal move, it is likely to be followed by competing offers from rival clubs.

Sunderland already know they won’t be able to compete with other clubs when it comes to matching salary proposals. They are up against it big time if they want to keep their most talented prospect.

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