Newcastle’s Pursuit of Sunderland Superstar Stalls as Manchester United Lurks, But Transfer Hopes Fade
Newcastle United have made significant strides in securing youth talent in recent years, but one missed opportunity that may linger is their failure to land Sunderland’s rising star, Chris Rigg. The 17-year-old midfielder, long tracked by Newcastle, has instead blossomed at Sunderland, where his match-winning goal in the recent Wear-Tees derby solidified his place in the senior team. Although Newcastle made a strong attempt to sign him in 2023, Sunderland convinced Rigg to stay with promises of first-team minutes, and he has since signed his first professional contract. Now, with Manchester United also circling, Newcastle’s chances of landing the young talent seem to be slipping away.