West Ham in 'strong position' to sign Sunderland wonderkid after holding internal talks

03/25/2025 06:13 PM

West Ham United are gearing up for a major squad overhaul this summer.

The Hammers are prepared to green-light another splurge, with Graham Potter keen to shape the squad in his image.

So far, the English manager has been forced to work with the heavily unbalanced squad he inherited from his predecessor, Julen Lopetegui.

The Hammers have been woeful this season, but Potter has brought some sense of stability to the club.

Despite sitting 16th in the Premier League table, the Hammers are in no danger of slipping into the dreaded relegation zone as they boast a 17-point lead over 18th-placed Ipswich Town.

But that counts for nothing as they’re also light years away from the European places, so Potter’s side have nothing left to fight for this season other than a strong finale.

With this season already written off, plans are already underway for a squad revamp, and the Hammers already have their eyes on their first target.

West Ham interested in Chris Rigg

According to The Guardian, West Ham are seriously considering a move for highly rated Sunderland midfielder Chris Rigg.

The Hammers aren’t dragging their heels on a potential deal. They have already held internal talks about the midfielder and are in a ‘strong position’ to recruit him.

The 17-year-old midfielder is also being tracked by London rivals Tottenham Hotspur, but West Ham have reportedly put themselves in a decent position to get a deal over the line.

Potter wants to refresh his midfield, and Rigg fits the profile of the energetic and technically gifted player West Ham are looking for.

The teenager has been one of the standout prospects in the Championship this season, so it makes sense that a lot of Premier League clubs are tracking his development.

He has featured 36 times across all competitions this season and scored four times in 34 Championship games.

Rigg signed a three-year deal last summer, keeping him at the Stadium of Light until the summer of 2027.

He’s a key part of Sunderland’s promotion bid, but it remains to be seen if they can resist bids from Premier League clubs this summer, especially if the Black Cats don’t make it to the top flight.