Spurs handed chance to sign £50m England star

Sunderland are now confident of getting Chris Rigg and Dan Neil to sign a new contract on Wearside, as per The Northern Echo.

Sunderland can now begin to focus on the season ahead after confirming the appointment of Regis Le Bris just over a week ago.

The Black Cats have a lot of work to do still this summer, but getting their new head coach finalised has relieved the hierarchy of a lot of pressure from the fanbase.

Rigg, 17, is arguably Sunderland’s biggest prospect. The midfielder just turned 17 and is now eligible to sign a professional contract. He played 21 Championship games for Sunderland and scored twice in the league last season.

Neil, 22, played 42 second tier games for his boyhood club. He scored four and assisted a further five last time around.

Both men have been involved in some contract disputes this summer. Rigg has agreed a deal in principle with Sunderland, but he was waiting to see who their new head coach was before committing to signing.

Neil, however, still has two years left on his current contract. When Sunderland tried to extend that this summer it was rejected by the 22-year-old due to the head coach situation.

Now, The Northern Echo reports Sunderland are confident of keeping Rigg at the club beyond this summer and are hopeful he will sign the new deal soon. It is said Rigg is a big part of their plans this season.