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Sunderland midfielder Chris Rigg has claimed he had “no choice” but to sign a new contract with the club, despite having been linked with a move to Liverpool earlier this year.
The 18-year-old has been catching the eye of some of the Premier League’s top clubs over the past year or so, having made 47 appearances in total last season as Sunderland secured its return to the top flight after eight years away.
Rigg’s star has continued to rise as the Black Cats have made an impressive start to the current campaign, having started three of their last four league games, and shown why he was linked with joining Arne Slot’s side, among others.
Reports earlier this year suggested that Liverpool was among a host of clubs scouting the England U19 star, along with the likes of Everton, West Ham, Crystal Palace, Tottenham, Manchester United and Newcastle, while Arsenal and European sides Inter Milan and Bayern Munich were also said to have shown interest.
Rigg though would go on to stay put at the Stadium of Light following Sunderland’s victory in the Championship play-off final, and he committed his future to the club by signing a new long-term contract during the summer.
Speaking about the decision to sign the deal that ties him to his boyhood club until 2030, Rigg told the Sunderland Echo: “I can't get too much on a high because there's always something around the corner.
“But no, I was buzzing to commit my future here. There was no choice there; I was always going to do that. Because I know what this club means, their ambitions, and you can see it on the pitch.”
On reaching the top flight of English soccer with Sunderland, Rigg added: "I think it's every boy's dream to be a Premier League player, and not just to be a Premier League player, to be a player that's grew up in this city, this town and what it means for the fans.
"So like you say on the pitch, I give it my all for the fans.
"And yeah, just so proud to finally call myself a Premier League player.
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"I've definitely got the qualities to be a Premier League player. Obviously, I've still got so much more to learn - as you can see - and the team's got so much to learn.
"We're still gelling, there's still a lot of new players that need to gel. But I think we're on the right path."
Liverpool.com says: It will be interesting to see how Rigg and Sunderland get on as the season progresses. If they continue to impress, then it will certainly be worth Liverpool and all those other teams keeping a close eye on the teenager.
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