16-year-old Sunderland player wanted by Newcastle waiting for club's managerial situation to be cleared up before deciding future

Newcastle United still have their eye on teenage sensation Chris Rigg who currently plies his trade down the A19 at Sunderland.

The 16-year-old joined the Academy of Light over Newcastle and has already broken into Sunderland's first-team making 21 appearances last season and scoring two goals.

Newcastle have kept tabs on him since he opted to join the mackems two years ago, and with his 17th birthday looming, the Magpies, along with Manchester United and Liverpool are poised to offer him his first professional contract.

Should he accept a contract from elsewhere, Sunderland would be entitled to compensation meaning a fee would have to be agreed, however, if the two clubs can't come to an agreement, and independent tribunal can intervene and set a price they think the player is worth. In short, the mackems would be powerless to stop him leaving, but they will be compensated should he opt to move on.

Rigg may be waiting a while to decide his future

The Sun reporter Alan Nixon has posted on his X account that there is no sign of an offer for Rigg just yet.

However, Football League World believe that Rigg will be waiting to see who comes in as Sunderland boss before making any kind of decision on his future.

Sunderland have now been without a manager since February after sacking Michael Beale after just 12 games in charge. Since then Football Manager player Will Still has turned his back on joining Sunderland along with several other candidates. It seems that Rigg may be waiting a while as nobody wants the job.

Chris Rigg could be tempted to move to Tyneside coming from a Newcastle-supporting family

Chris Rigg, hailed as the best young player in the country by many, opted to sign for Sunderland's academy over Newcastle's two years ago despite coming from a Newcastle United family, such was the state of our neglected academy after the Mike Ashley era.

Things are improving in that area now, though, and Rigg could be tempted to move to his boyhood club if the Magpies show willing and offer a contract this summer.

Such is Rigg's potential, he could even be offered a spot as part of the first team. Being under 21 he wouldn't take up a squad space, but he could find himself training with the firsts and could, like Lewis Miley, find his way into the squad next season. Fingers crossed we make a move and that we can convince him to join us over staying put or going to Manchester or Liverpool.