Chris Rigg has already told Liverpool what he wants to hear amid summer transfer talk
Liverpool transfer target Chris Rigg has already told the Reds what it'll take to secure his signature this summer.
Sunderland's wonderkid midfielder is grabbing all the headlines after a fantastic start to the season with the Black Cats - at just 17-years-old. Former Wearsiders' boss Tony Mowbray handed the youngster his debut as a 15-year-old - helping Sunderland complete a dramatic turnaround in the FA Cup against Shrewsbury.
In doing so, Rigg became Sunderland's youngest ever outfield player and has continued to break records since then. He became the club's youngest ever scorer after scoring a powerful header in their 5-1 win over Southampton last season, but that record could have tumbled a season earlier.
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Rigg came off the bench and thought he'd scored the winner against Fulham in the FA Cup clash at Craven Cottage, but the officials ruled the goal out for offside. Now a firm part of Sunderland's starting XI, the England youth international is plotting a route to the very top.
“That’s where I want to be,” Rigg told Chronicle Live in pre-season as he reflected on his remarkable ascent in recent years and coming up against Premier League opposition. “I want to be at the very top.”
Sunderland saw off competition from a number of European giants this summer, with Manchester United, Bayern Munich and Newcastle United all reportedly keen on signing the youngster on his 17th birthday. Players across England are unable to sign professional terms until they've celebrated that birthday.
Guarantees over gametime saw Rigg stay at the Stadium of Light this summer, which will play a key part in any future transfer negotiations with Liverpool and Arne Slot.. At just 17-years-old, the youngster has notched up 32 senior appearances, scoring four goals.
“I was just waiting ages to get it all done to be fair,” Rigg added. “I didn’t really want to stress about the contract situation, I just wanted to play for Sunderland. It’s a great place to develop my career.”
When asked about the mentality it takes to break into the first-team set-up at such a young age, Rigg said: "I think just where I’ve grown up, I’ve been told if you’re not humble, you’re not going to be successful. That’s the main thing. I’d like to think that I am humble, but I’ve still got a long way to go.
“Sometimes you look back on stuff but I’m more about living in the present and trying to get this club where we belong, in the Premier League. The squad is so good. They tell me how good I am to be in the team. This season I really want to kick on and show people what I can do.”