Rigg’s future was the subject of sustained speculation at the end of last season, but despite interest from a number of Premier League clubs including Manchester United and Newcastle, the midfielder opted to sign his first professional contract with the [Black Cats](http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/football/sunderland).
Rigg signed a three-year deal with Sunderland last summer, meaning the club are in a strong position when it comes to determining his future beyond the end of the current campaign.
However, the 17-year-old is set to be one of the hottest properties in the English game once the transfer window reopens, with a number of Premier League clubs already lining up formal moves for his services.
Tottenham are known to be long-term admirers of the North-Easterner, with Ange Postecoglou hoping to add Rigg to a growing list of youngsters who have been persuaded to move to north London.
Djed Spence and Archie Gray have both enjoyed breakthrough seasons in Spurs’ first team, with senior officials hoping Rigg can be persuaded that the club is the right place for him to try to prove himself in the Premier League.
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West Ham are also expected to make a formal offer come the end of the season, with Graham Potter keen to bring down the average age of the current West Ham squad during the close season.
Sunderland do not need to sell Rigg this summer, and the likelihood of them retaining the teenage midfielder would increase significantly if they were to win promotion under Regis Le Bris this term.
If the Black Cats remain in the Championship, they could find it much tougher to reject offers for Rigg, who is on the verge of breaking into the England Under-21s team.
Rigg’s representatives felt that remaining with Sunderland was the right move last summer, and their decision has been vindicated by the level of the youngster’s involvement in the first team this season. Rigg made his 36th senior appearance of the campaign when he started the 3-0 defeat at Coventry that preceded the international break.
They might conclude it is time to move on if Sunderland remain in the Championship, although the Black Cats hierarchy will continue to do all they can to hold on to their brightest young talents.
Sunderland turned down a series of Brighton offers for Tommy Watson on deadline day in January and also rejected bids from Crystal Palace for Jobe Bellingham last summer.