Chris Rigg exit: Sunderland icon shares huge update amid Tottenham development
Sunderland face an uphill battle to retain Chris Rigg’s services beyond this season.
The Black Cats are focused on earning promotion to the Premier League after beating Coventry City 2-1 in the first leg of their Championship playoff semi-final.
Clawing their way back into the top flight could put Sunderland at an advantage in negotiations over the futures of some of their star players, including Jobe Bellingham and Rigg.
However, with some of Europe’s biggest clubs circling around the likes of Rigg, Regis Le Bris’ side will be aware that they might just end up short in their efforts to keep them.
Manchester United keen on Rigg, Tottenham want Bellingham
Micky Gray is of the view that Sunderland will have no chance of keeping their best players if they do not win the Championship playoffs.
The Stadium of Light legend revealed that Tottenham are among the clubs interested in Bellingham, who is also wanted by Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid.
| Player | Matches | Goals | Assists | Yellow Cards | Red Cards | Minutes |
| Rigg | 45 | 4 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 3216′ |
| Bellingham | 41 | 4 | 3 | 9 | 1 | 3597′ |
He also disclosed that at least a few clubs, including Manchester United, are looking at signing Rigg.
Gray insisted that earning promotion to the Premier League is Sunderland’s only hope of keeping those players.
“If they don’t get themselves into the Premier League, this side is going to get scattered everywhere, they are going to go to top sides”, Gray said on talkSPORT (9 May).
“Bellingham, I mean, Dortmund are after him, Real Madrid are looking at him, Tottenham are looking at him.
“The same with Chris Rigg, with Manchester United and a few others.
“So, they are 90-120 minutes away from a final. If they can get through that and get through the final, they might be able to keep all of these players.”
Sunderland to sell Rigg and Bellingham
It is quite optimistic of Gray to think that Sunderland could keep Rigg and Bellingham if they reach the Premier League.
Considering the size of the clubs that are interested in the Black Cats duo, Kyril Louis-Dreyfus and Co. would do well to keep at least one of them at the club.
As things stand, it would not be a surprise if Rigg and Bellingham left Sunderland for a significant amount of money, regardless of what happens in the Championship playoffs.
Therefore, Le Bris must be prepared for all possibilities this summer transfer window.
Apart from the aforementioned duo, other players like Dan Neil could also be on their way out of the Wearside-based club.