Sunderland must follow up good Chris Rigg news with clear Trai Hume position: View | OneFootball

The Northern Irishman has been attracting Premier League interest in the past

Sunderland were boosted by the news that teenage sensation Chris Rigg has committed his future to the club earlier this month, with the academy graduate penning a deal at the Stadium of Light until the summer of 2027.

The midfield maestro became the Black Cats’ youngest-ever debutant as a 15-year-old when he came off the bench against Fulham in an FA Cup tie in February 2023, and is living every Mackem’s dream in playing for the club he loves.

With the likes of Manchester United and Newcastle United sniffing around, the tying down of Rigg to a long-term deal is a statement of intent from the Wearsiders, who will be looking to do the same with some of their other highly-regarded talent in the future.

That includes fellow young star Trai Hume, who new Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris will be doing everything he can to keep hold of this summer, after reports of interest from a number of sides this year.

Sunderland must issue hands-off warning for Trai Hume as interest in Northern Irishman continues

AFC Bournemouth and Aston Villa are just two of the names said to be linked with a liking for flying defender Hume in the past few months, while Leeds United and Leicester City are also credited with keeping tabs on the 22-year-old.

Having made the move to Wearside from Linfield in his homeland in the January of 2022, Hume has progressed into one of the division’s leading defenders during his time at the Stadium of Light, with the underlying numbers reflecting just as much.

With his position on the flanks, the fullback has his fair share of attacking talent to combat over the course of a Championship campaign, but more often than not, the opposition come out second best when faced with the Northern Irishman, who won a league-leading 152 tackles in the previous campaign.

That determination, focus, and measured-aggression is exactly what has made him stand out during his time at the Stadium of Light, while he also features within the top ten of Championship defenders for blocks (78) and interceptions (64) over the past 12 months.

The Wearsiders don’t need telling how much of a talent they have at their disposal, as they acted quickly to extend his deal until the summer of 2027 last summer, as they look to keep hold of their budding young stars.

The Black Cats have made a name for themselves for nurturing young talent and giving them a platform to express themselves in recent seasons, with Rigg and Hume some of the finest examples of that strategy coming into fruition.

Another superstar in the making is Jobe Bellingham - brother of England and Real Madrid’s Jude - who is also said to be attracting Premier League interest, although Sunderland are once again unwilling to sell their star boy at the earliest opportunity, just as they are playing hardball about Jack Clarke.

That stubbornness within the transfer market will fill Mackems with joy this summer, with the nucleus of a strong squad starting to form, having been given the opportunity in the professional game much earlier than other clubs may have allowed.

Kristjaan Speakman outlines Sunderland’s summer transfer strategy of retaining top talent

That refusal to sell is something that sporting director Kristjaan Speakman has commented on recently, with the Black Cats looking to keep hold of their top talent as long as possible, rather than cash in at the first opportunity.

Speakman said: “I think all I can say on player retention is that we've had a really strong record on that. Obviously, it was fantastic news with young Chris [Rigg] signing this week, I think that endorses and echoes everything we've been saying previously.

“And like I said, we'll just take every piece of interest or every discussion that happens along the way for what it is at that point in time.

“It's really, really difficult to predict, and I appreciate from a supporter's perspective, you want some certainty. I think the danger with the transfer window is it's always an uncertain period, but our intent and our objective has always been to retain our talent.”

While Rigg has already set his stall out for this year and the seasons beyond, Sunderland will be hoping that commitment to the cause is echoed by Hume this summer, with the Mackems on the cusp of getting everything clicking together as they search for a return to the Premier League.