Crystal Palace, Chris Rigg news may scare Sunderland more than Man Utd | OneFootball

Crystal Palace have had a knack of signing Championship stars and Chris Rigg could be next in line.

Since Regis Le Bris took the helm in late June, Sunderland’s journey through the Championship has been impressive, with the Black Cats currently holding a two-point lead at the top of the table.

After what was a torrid 2023-24, very few would have expected this youthful side to be coping with the challenges so well, especially given the departure of Jack Clarke, but, Le Bris has them firing and will be hopeful that his players can continue the strong form they've shown since August.

A player who has been a particular standout is young midfielder Chris Rigg. The 17-year-old broke into the team last season but, under the guidance of the Frenchman, has become a key figure in the side.

This has unsurprisingly caught the attention of many teams higher up the football pyramid, with the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea, and Real Madrid all interested.

However, clubs offering the prospect of more regular playing time are also showing significant intent, with one standout contender that is sure to worry Sunderland fans.

Crystal Palace chasing Chris Rigg

Having heavily impressed several clubs with his performances, on Wednesday, Matt Hughes of The Sun announced that Crystal Palace were another side interested in securing Rigg's services.

According to the journalist, they have attended several Sunderland games this season and believe the youngster will prove good enough for the Premier League.

It appears that the Eagles' main rivals in this chase will be Man United, with Football Insider exclusively revealing that the Red Devils are closely monitoring his situation at Sunderland.

While Crystal Palace may not have the same financial clout as Ruben Amorim's side, the £20 million valuation of Rigg is unlikely to pose a significant obstacle.

This should worry Sunderland fans, as the Eagles' strong track record of signing top Championship talent makes Selhurst Park an increasingly attractive destination.

In addition, with an uncertain future at Old Trafford, the Palace changing room seems a much safer environment for a young player, and Rigg would be silly to turn down an offer from Oliver Glasner's side.

Crystal Palace's Championship signing success

It is no understatement to say that Crystal Palace almost always get their signings from the Championship spot on. Just last year, we saw them snap up Adam Wharton from Blackburn Rovers, who had a whirlwind six months as he was chosen to go to the European Championships following his strong performances in the Premier League.

Outside of that, we have seen them add players like Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise to their ranks, with the latter now tearing it up in the Bundesliga for Bayern Munich.

However, Eze has undoubtedly been the most successful of the trio in South London, with the attacking midfielder consistently improving and making a significant impact year-on-year.

For Rigg, this perceived success must tempt his decision-making if he was provided with an ultimatum on who to sign for.

At 17 years of age, he has years of development left in him and making a move to a club like Manchester United could slow this down tenfold.

Meanwhile, as it has been demonstrated already, Crystal Palace is a great club for emerging players, and it would not be a surprise to see him make a move there.

Not only that, with Ruben Amorim set to take charge of the Red Devils and a rebuild needed, a move for Rigg feels unlikely to be high on their list of priorities, whereas the Eagles have a track record of moving for EFL players and getting deals done.

For that reason, Sunderland