West Ham could be about to raid Sunderland for some of their emerging talents in the summer transfer window, and it should certainly alarm Kristjaan Speakman.
West Ham are making a habit of raiding the Championship for top young players, whilst Sunderland are making a habit of producing them. Hence, it’s not surprising to hear that West Ham are plotting a raid on Sunderland this summer.
Last year, the Hammers were heavily linked with Jack Clarke who eventually joined Ipswich Town in an £18million deal, albeit having experienced mixed results since making the switch to Portman Road.
But a move to a more established club like West Ham might have been better for Clarke. And it’s now a move that one or even multiple Sunderland players could make in the summer, with Graham Potter’s side looking increasingly keen on a certain Chris Rigg among others.
He’s the one that the Hammers really want. But surprisingly, there’s some other less expected names on the Hammers’ radar.
Photo by Martin Swinney/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images
Photo by Martin Swinney/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images
Romaine Mundle among Sunderland players tracked by West Ham
Reliable Hammers source ExWHUEmployee has now revealed that West Ham have been keeping tabs on several Sunderland players since the turn of the year, with Rigg the crown jewel among those. But Romaine Mundle and Eliezer Mayenda are also among the others.
ExWHUEmployee has said on The West Ham Way podcast: “Players from Sunderland and Burnley are very much on the radar. We have been tracking a range of Sunderland players for most of 2025 and these include: Jobe Bellingham, Dan Neil, Romain Mundle, Chris Rigg and Eliezer Mayenda.
“Chris Rigg has emerged as the most likely signing from that bunch with the player’s agent already having had early discussions with the club. A transfer fee of around £20million is being discussed but other clubs are also interested in the 17-year-old midfielder including London rivals Tottenham.”
Photo by Michael Driver | MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Photo by Michael Driver | MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
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Sunderland definitely can’t afford to lose two of those five
The likes of Rigg and Bellingham seem inevitable to leave Sunderland in the summer whether Regis Le Bris can guide the club to promotion or not. Meanwhile, Neil is out of contract at Sunderland in 2026 and so he might be another the club cashes in on this summer.
But Mundle and Mayenda especially seem to be two that Sunderland need to keep hold of for at least another full season in order for the pair to both fulfil more of their potential and further boost their transfer values.
Mundle spent a long period out injured whilst Mayenda has had spells in and out of the side. But it looks like next season, both players will become even bigger key players in the XI, arguably Sunderland’s best if the Black Cats remain in the Championship.
Keeping them is crucial for Kristjaan Speakman and co, whilst this summer might be the right time to cash in on the likes of Bellingham, Rigg, and Neil.