West Ham are lining up a move for the Sunderland midfielder Chris Rigg. Tottenham have also tracked the 17-year-old but West Ham have put themselves in a strong position to advance their interest.
Graham Potter wants to freshen up his midfield and talks have been held internally over a move for Rigg. The teenager is one of the hottest properties in the Championship and has attracted a lot of attention from clubs in the Premier League.
Rigg is part of Sunderland’s push for promotion and signed a three-year deal last summer. That leaves Sunderland in a strong position, particularly if they seal a return to the top flight.
But West Ham are monitoring the situation and are keen to add more dynamism to their midfield. Rigg is admired by the club’s coaching team and the recruitment department. He has scored four goals in 36 appearances this season and is an energetic player with a reputation for being aggressive with the ball.
West Ham have lacked dynamism and craft in midfield this season. They have explored signing Angel Gomes on a free transfer but the Lille midfielder has not accepted their offer of a deal worth £100,000 a week. West Ham could receive offers for the Czech Republic midfielder Tomas Soucek.
Soucek’s international teammate Vladimir Coufal has suggested he could leave West Ham when his contract expires in the summer. The right-back said the club had refused to let him join Fulham in January but it remains to be seen whether the 32-year-old will be offered a new deal after losing his place to Aaron Wan-Bissaka. West Ham have looked at the Nordsjælland right-back Lucas Høgsberg.
