Sunderland star Chris Rigg has been a man in headlines since the start of this season, and for all the right reasons.

Amid what has been a stunning start to the season, Chris Rigg has now found himself the talk of Sunderland, and the talk of the Championship too.

He’s arguably been the star player for the Black Cats this season. The 17-year-old has featured 13 times in the Championship and has three goals, with Rigg labelled as Sunderland’s ‘best player’ against Preston last time out.

Already this season, Rigg has had links to Real Madrid and Manchester United, with the Red Devils said to be the favourites for Rigg who looks poised to leave the Stadium of Light in 2025.

More recently, Crystal Palace have been linked with Rigg. The Eagles have become quite synonymous for poaching young Championship talents; Ebere Eze, Adam Wharton and Michael Olise to name a few.

Carlton Palmer makes Chris Rigg comparison and discusses Crystal Palace interest

Speaking to Football League World, pundit Carlton Palmer has discussed Rigg’s fine form so far, even comparing him to former England and Newcastle United star Paul Gascoigne.

Palmer had plenty say, commenting on Rigg: “I think he’s the best young talent in the Championship, but £20million won’t get him out of Sunderland.

“They [Crystal Palace] will have to break the bank to get him. Sunderland won’t sell him for £20 million, they are top of the league and looking to get back to the Premier League, so if they’re going to sell Chris Rigg it will be for a lot more than £20million.

“If he continues in the same form, and I don’t make this too fine a point, the last player to come out of that neck of the woods with that sort of talent was Paul Gascoigne, this boy is in that class, so Sunderland are not going to sell him on the cheap.”

Palmer added on Crystal Palace’s interest in Rigg: “I can understand why Crystal Palace are looking at him.

“They’ll definitely look to make an offer for him in the January transfer window as other clubs will do, but £20million won’t cut it for Chris Rigg, that is for sure.”

Manchester United in pole position to sign Chris Rigg

Throughout this season, it’s been said that Manchester United are the favourites to sign Rigg, and that’s exactly what Sunderland AFC News sources confirmed in October.

And just this week, former Manchester United and Sunderland scout Mick Brown revealed that the Red Devils have scouted Rigg ‘nearly every week this season’, ahead of a potential January move.

So like Palmer suggests, bids may well come in for Rigg in January. But given his fine form and given the fact that Sunderland won’t budge easily given their promotion push, United or Palace or any other interest team will have to table a serious offer.

We all know Manchester United have money and that they want to start poaching young stars like Rigg. But the ball is very much in the court of the Sunderland owners who have proven that they don’t sell up easy, or cheap.

Sunderland return to Championship action with a home game against Coventry City on Saturday at 3pm.

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