Manchester United have sent scouts to have another look at a “special” player this week, as they eye a potential summer move, according to a recent report.
Man Utd sign Dorgu but continue poor form under Amorim
It has been a rather difficult few days for the Red Devils, as defeat to Crystal Palace put an end to their recent upturn in form, and the failure to bring in one more player before the transfer window closed will also have been a disappointment.
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As the transfer window is now closed, Man Utd are turning their attentions to securing the long-term future of a key player.
United allowed Antony and Marcus Rashford to both leave the club on loan to Real Betis and Aston Villa, respectively, and while Ruben Amorim’s bosses brought in Ayden Heaven and Patrick Dorgu, for him they failed to bring in an attacking replacement.
The Red Devils were heavily linked with a move for Mathys Tel, but United pulled out of any transfer, as they were unwilling to meet Bayern Munich’s demands.
Away from transfer news, United suffered a big injury blow on Sunday afternoon as defender Lisandro Martínez was stretched off the pitch after falling to the ground in a relatively low-impact collision. United are yet to confirm the Argentine’s diagnosis, but it’s been reported that Martinez has suffered cruciate ligament damage, which would rule him out for the remainder of this campaign and likely the start of the 2025-26 season as well.
Man Utd scouts run fresh checks on £25m midfielder
The Red Devils may not have brought in any new attacking players in January, but they have their eye on potential reinforcements for the summer, as according to talkSPORT’s Alex Crook, Man United’s scouts were in attendance to watch Sunderland’s Chris Rigg in their game against Middlesbrough on Monday night.
United scouts have already taken in Rigg’s performances for the Black Cats, with Crook reporting this was a fresh look at the young midfielder, as they are among the teams interested in securing his signature. INEOS see Rigg as a young player who is available for a reasonable price, with them having the potential to sell him on in the future.
At the age of 17, Rigg has become an integral part of Sunderland’s midfield as they look to make their long-awaited return to the Premier League. Rigg scored two goals in 21 Championship games last season, and he has already surpassed that in this campaign, scoring four times in 26 league games.
|
Chris Rigg’s performance v Middlesbrough |
|
|---|---|
|
Minutes played |
72 |
|
Touches |
27 |
|
Accurate passes |
14/20 (70%) |
|
Key passes |
1 |
|
Long balls (accurate) |
2 (1) |
|
Ground duels (won) |
6 (1) |
|
Aerial duels (won) |
3 (2) |
|
Possession lost |
9 |
|
Fouls |
1 |
|
Clearances |
2 |
Rigg, who has been labelled “special” by Sunderland fan and pundit Dougie Critchley, is under contract until 2027, and it’s been reported that he could cost United or any other interested team £25 million.
However, if Sunderland achieves promotion to the top flight, that figure could significantly increase. The Red Devils have added some very exciting young players to their squad in recent transfer windows, and Rigg looks to be the next on their list, who would fit straight into their first team plans and could be a long-term replacement for Christian Eriksen, who looks set to depart Old Trafford at the end of the campaign.
