Crystal Palace set sights on signing Chris Rigg - Transfer guru
Crystal Palace are plotting a move to sign Sunderland sensation Chris Rigg after being impressed by his displays in the Championship.
This is according to former Sunderland assistant manager Mick Brown, who also worked in the scouting department at the likes of Man United and West Ham, as he exclusively told Football Insider that scouts have been in attendance at their games this season.
This comes after Brown told Football Insider that Palace will look to sign the best young talents from the Championship after their previous successes.
Now, the Eagles have turned their attentions to Sunderland's 17-year-old gem who has established himself as a key player in Regis Le Bris' side.
Rigg has featured in 14 of the Black Cats' 15 league games so far this season and started in all but one of those, while he was awarded the Young Player of the Month award for September.
Palace, meanwhile, are looking to add quality young players to their squad with a view to becoming first-team regulars and eventually selling for a large profit in the future.
However, the possibility of a deal hinges on whether Sunderland achieve promotion this season as they are currently top of the league and will not sell if they are promoted.
Crystal Palace keeping tabs on Sunderland gem Chris Rigg
Palace are not the only club to have shown an interest in the midfielder, as Man United scouts have been in attendance to watch him at the Stadium of Light "nearly every week".
Brown, who spent over a decade at United during their most successful period and has a wealth of experience in top-level player recruitment, insisted that the 17-year-old is being watched closely by multiple clubs across Europe.
"Yes, he's one Palace are interested in," he told Football Insider.
"From what I'm told, they've had scouts present at a number of his games this year.
"They're not the only ones, though. As is always the case for a player his age, there are clubs across Europe all watching him closely.
"But Sunderland are top of the league at the moment, they won't let him go in January and they'll want to keep him if they manage to go up.
"If they don't get promoted, though, Palace will be in the race to sign him.
"They have a good record bringing players in from the Championship as we've seen with the likes of Eze and Wharton, which is always a good sign.
"Players will see that there's a clear pathway there and that often plays a part in making the move."
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