Spurs submit bid to sign “wonderful” English star

This season has been a brutal one for Tottenham Hotspur.

Ange Postecoglou’s side have had to deal with an incredible number of injuries, which, combined with a general lack of form, sees the club sitting 14th in the Premier League.

The only benefit to come from the campaign has been how much first-team football the club’s exciting youngsters have been able to play, with Lucas Bergvall and Archie Gray already looking like some of the best players in the squad.

Interestingly, how well the latter has adapted to top-flight football might be influencing the club’s transfer plans, as recent reports have touted another young talent for a move to N17, a move that would mirror Gray’s.

Spurs looking at signing exciting wonderkid

Spurs have a number of exciting young talents emerging under Postecoglou’s guidance this term and they could be about to bring another of the country’s best wonderkids to north London.

Indeed, according to a recent report from Spain, Tottenham are incredibly interested in Sunderland’s teenage talent, Chris Rigg.

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In fact, the report has revealed that the North Londoners have already placed an astounding offer of €45m, which is about £38m, ‘on the table.’

Unsurprisingly, the report claims that the Lilywhites are not the only top-flight side keen to secure the 17-year-old’s services in the summer, but the story also highlights that the club’s decision to make such a significant offer is a sign of their determination to get it done ahead of potential rivals.

It’s undoubtedly a lot of money to spend on such a young player, but if his potential is as high as those in the know suggest it is, then it’d be money well spent, akin to Gray’s move last year.

Why Rigg would be a Gray repeat

So, if Spurs were able to get ahead of the chasing pack and secure Rigg’s services in the summer, why would it be a repeat of the Gray deal? What makes the two players so similar?

There are a few reasons, but perhaps the most significant is that it would be yet another example of Daniel Levy and Co investing a massive amount of money into a highly-rated teenager from the Championship.

For example, while the former Leeds United star was being described as a “future £100m” star by analyst Ben Mattinson before his move last year, Mattinson described the Sunderland star as “one of, if not the best talents in the Championship” just a few months ago.

While that might sound like hyperbole, it’s really not, as, despite being so young, the Hebburn-born talent has made 36 first-team appearances for the Black Cats this term, in which he’s scored four goals and provided one assist.

Moreover, FBref has placed him in the top 1% of midfielders in the 14 next-best competitions for non-penalty expected goals, the top 2% for goal-creating actions from take-ons, the top 5% for successful take-ons and more, all per 90.

The second similarity would be their positional versatility.

For example, while both players are central midfielders, they have been played all over the pitch this season, with the former Peacocks ace starring in defence for Postecoglou, while the “wonderful” Sunderland ace, as dubbed by Tony Mowbray, has played all over, from centre-forward to attacking-midfield and even defensive midfield – he can seemingly do it all.

Ultimately, Spurs already have what looks to be a generational talent from the Championship in Gray, and while he won’t come cheap, they’d be wise to secure the services of another in Rigg.

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