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But the emergence of Everton is intriguing, given their added financial muscle this summer.

Article continues belowREAD MORE:It's funny how things have worked out at Everton - they'll win the league next season at this rateREAD MORE:Abdoulaye Doucoure handed verdict over Everton future after blunt contract message

“Everton are looking to strengthen – in the words of one insider – ‘in every single department’ over the close season.

Sunderland may have other ideas, given Rigg is under contract until 2027.

“If they are promoted – and they are guaranteed a place in the Championship play-offs, even if form has tailed off a little of late – then he is highly likely to stay on Wearside.

If not, then his future becomes more complicated, given Sunderland’s player trading model.”

Although he doesn’t turn 18 until June 18, Hebburn-born Rigg, who has been with the Black Cats since he was in primary school, has already made 64 appearances for the Wearsiders, netting seven goals and has been capped by England at Under-15, U16, U17, U18 and U19 levels.

In terms of matching his playing style to current Premier League stars, Comparisonator's Similarity tool calculates the youngster as 73% against Bruno Fernandes of Manchester United; 54% against Justin Kluivert of Bournemouth and 52% against Morgan Gibbs-White of Nottingham Forest.

Everton are soon set to say goodbye to Goodison Park as the Toffees play out their final few matches in their iconic home before moving to their incredible new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock.

And to celebrate this historic and poignant event, the ECHO has produced this stunning special souvenir edition that no fan can afford to be without as they bid farewell to their iconic and beloved home.

We have delved into the ECHO archives to unearth fascinating stories from the famous ground's past, including how it came to be built in 1892 and where its world-famous name came from.

Relive some of the most epic games to have graced the Grand Old Lady, including first-hand accounts of those involved in perhaps Goodison's greatest night - the European Cup Winners' Cup semi-final win over Bayern Munich in the unforgettable year of 1985.

And then there are the legends - from Dean to Hickson, Sharp to Ferguson, Kendall to Moyes, we celebrate the Goodison icons who will live forever in the hearts and minds of Evertonians everywhere long after the ground is gone.

There are also some rare treats with a glorious collection of photographs from the archives, featuring stunning Goodison views and behind-the-scenes footage of what makes the Grand Old Lady truly trick.

Buy nowand have it delivered directly to your door.

Alternatively you can purchase in most supermarkets, high street retailers and independent newsagents on Merseyside from April 2, 2025.

We can also use Comparisonator’s Virtual Transfer to correlate Rigg’s statistics in the Championship this season against those already playing in the Premier League in his position.

Rigg’s considerable potential but rawness is also displayed by him being eighth for shots (1.54, with leader Palmer on 2.73) yet 10th for shots on target (0.54, with Palmer on 1.46) and eighth for dribbles (2.69, with leader Omari Hutchinson of Ipswich Town on 5.65) yet 12th for successful dribbles (1, with Hutchinson top on 2.53).

The teenager works hard off the ball though and his average of 5 ball recoveries per 90 minutes, would place him fourth in the Premier League, ahead of seventh placed McNeil on 4.33 in a category topped by Fernandes on 6.35.

He’d be fifth for picking-up (of loose possession) on 2.54, a category topped by Lucas Paqueta of West Ham United on 3.67 and 10th for interceptions (1.62) behind leader Mateus Fernandes of Southampton on 3.27.

Although the more frantic nature of play in the Championship is demonstrated by Rigg only coming in 13th for both passes (26.77 in a category topped by Fernandes on 53.88) and successful passes (21.31, with Fernandes again top on 42.24), hitting 1.71 successful long passes per 90 minutes would put him seventh behind leader Fernandes on 3.41.

The North Easterner also seems to relish individual battles as only McNeil (5.89) contests more than his 4.23 pressing duels per 90 minutes while he comes fourth for aerial duels won on 0.62, behind leader Paqueta on 2.22 and ahead of sixth-placed Doucoure on 0.5.

Chris Rigg's pressing duels statistics for Sunderland in the Championship this season compared to Premier League players in his positionArticle continues below

Having signed the likes of Tim Cahill from Millwall and Joleon Lescott from Wolverhampton Wanderers during his first spell at Everton, Moyes has got an impressive pedigree of polishing up rough diamonds from the Championship into accomplished Premier League gems.

Given his own past association with Sunderland where he managed the future England number one Jordan Pickford, there could be a persuasive case from Blues insiders that they could provide the ideal platform for Rigg to take his game onto a new level as part of a much-changed side in what should be a fresh dawn for the club next season at the new stadium.

*Comparisonator is a football data comparison tool from 271 professional leagues around the world which compares players and clubs by utilising over 100 different parameters.
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