Manchester United are reportedly braced for competition from Tottenham Hotspur for the signature of Sunderland's Chris Rigg.
Both United and Spurs have endured difficult seasons in the Premier League, with the clubs languishing in 13th and 14th place respectively.
Red Devils boss Ruben Amorim has been provided with some leeway for his side's performances given he only arrived in November, while Tottenham head coach Ange Postecoglou has faced significant scrutiny.
The upcoming summer transfer window is certain to be one of sizeable change, with both managers keen on strengthening their flawed squads.
However, Fichajes reports that Spurs are willing to pay nearly £38m to sign Sunderland midfielder Rigg, who is believed to be one of the finest prospects currently in the Championship and is said to be a target for United.
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Chris Rigg in profile
Rigg is only 17 years old but has started 29 times for the Black Cats in the second tier, and though he has at times made mistakes, the level of maturity he has displayed for his age is remarkable.
The teenager could be developed into fulfilling a number of positions in midfield given his rounded skillset, with the player capable of playing in a box-to-box or more defensive role.
Sunderland have primarily utilised Rigg in more advanced areas, and the Englishman has registered 36 key passes in the Championship, a figure that only three of his teammates have bettered.
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Who should Rigg sign for in the summer?
United are said to be struggling financially following years of mismanagement, and the club are reportedly on the lookout for younger stars that can be developed rather than already established players that may prove prohibitively expensive.
Meanwhile, Rigg would arguably face significant competition for a place in Spurs' team given they boast talents such as James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski in attacking roles.
Sunderland are currently in fourth place in the Championship and are almost certain to qualify for the promotion playoffs, and there is a chance that Rigg could be playing Premier League football next season if he stays with the Black Cats.
Perhaps the teenager should opt to stay at the Stadium of Light considering his young age, especially as he will likely be afforded more time to iron out his flaws with Sunderland than he would at either United or Spurs.
Lewis Nolan
