Man Utd lead the chase for Sunderland midfielder dubbed a 'Duracell bunny'

Manchester United are leading the chase and are prioritising Sunderland star Chris Rigg in their search for reinforcements.

With a £37m deal for the teenager—described as both a “diamond” and a “Duracell bunny”—edging closer, Rúben Amorim has placed the 17-year-old midfielder at the top of his summer wishlist.

United’s campaign has been one to forget, with the club languishing in 13th in the Premier League, already out of both domestic cups, and facing a must-win Europa League last-16 tie against Real Sociedad to secure a Champions League spot.

A bottom-half finish—their first since 1990—looms large, underscoring the urgent need for squad surgery under Amorim and INEOS’s stewardship.

While high-profile targets like Victor Osimhen and Francisco Trincão have been linked, it’s the pursuit of Rigg that has captured United’s focus, with the club seeing him as a ‘must-have transfer’ for the summer window.

Rigg has shone brightly for Sunderland in the Championship this season, making 28 appearances with four goals and three assists—remarkable numbers for a midfielder yet to turn 18.

His energy, versatility, and relentless work rate have earned him the “Duracell bunny” nickname from former youth coach Steven Richardson, who told The Chronicle: “Sunderland have got an absolute diamond. He’s never not going to try.

"He could probably play 100 to 180 minutes—he’s controlled with it as well.” Richardson’s glowing endorsement has only fueled United’s determination to land the teenager, who has also drawn interest from Tottenham, West Ham, Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea, and Brighton.

According to CaughtOffside, United are ‘showing the most intent’ and are ‘most keen to prevail’ in the race, with a deal now “thundering closer.”

Sunderland, aware of the growing buzz around their starlet, have slapped a £37m valuation on Rigg—a figure that could rise to £40m, matching the fee Leeds secured from Tottenham for Archie Gray last summer.

Despite the hefty price tag, United remain undeterred, with technical director Jason Wilcox and director of recruitment Christopher Vivell firmly behind the move, and Amorim giving the green light for a strong push.

The Red Devils’ plan, per the report, is to structure the deal strategically to ease Financial Fair Play pressures.

They aim to offer Sunderland an initial £10m downpayment, with the remaining £27m spread in instalments over a proposed six-year contract for Rigg at Old Trafford.

This approach reflects United’s broader strategy under INEOS to invest in youth while managing a bloated wage bill—evidenced by plans to offload up to 11 players, including £380m worth of signings like Antony and Jadon Sancho.