Updates on Brentford defender Benjamin Arthur and Sunderland wonderkid Chris Rigg are included in the most recent Newcastle United transfer news.
Chris Rigg, a wonderkid for Sunderland, scored the final goal in the thrashing 5-0 victory over Southampton last weekend to become the league’s youngest goal scorer in the club’s history. At the far post, the 16-year-old midfielder leapt highest to head Jewison Bennette’s cross over Gavin Bazunu.
It is the most recent achievement in Rigg’s incredible career; he is from Hebburn and comes from a family who all cheer for Newcastle. The Black Cats might have only been able to collect a small compensation amount, making the adolescent vulnerable to being seduced away over the summer.
The promise of first-team opportunities, though, may have persuaded Rigg to stay because Tony Mowbray was tasked with developing young players and keeping the Black Cats competitive. According to i News, the midfielder has drawn ‘strong attention’ from Manchester United and Newcastle United, who have both scouted the player.
When asked about Rigg’s potential, an unnamed North East scout told the title: “You don’t want to put pressure on such a young lad but in terms of his impact, his dynamism and his attitude it has to be Jordan Henderson. Jordan’s a Premier League winner, how many [England] caps and has been the Liverpool captain so it’s a high standard to live up to – which is why I hesitate to say that name – but this boy has the potential to match that, without a doubt. His potential is absolutely huge.”
Arthur claim
This summer, Benji Arthur, a potential for Peterborough United, was connected to a number of Premier League teams, including Newcastle. Posh chairman Darragh MacAnthony has spoken about the interest and talks that led to the 17-year-old’s eventual signing for Brentford.
He told The Hard Truth Podcast: “The only person who was fully respectful to us was Matthew Benham at Brentford, when they bought Benji Arthur, who is a scholar. Benji wouldn’t sign a pro deal and we had 20 Premier League clubs [looking at him].”
“The England under-18 manager said he was one of the best centre-backs at that age, let alone for England, and it just set off a whole thing during July and August that all the top clubs, like my Liverpool, hadn’t been to a Posh game and they were coming to our under-21 games, first time I had seen them, and they were all looking at Benji.
“We had a price which was nearly a record for a League One scholar, plus millions in add ons, as I think he will be in their first team in three years’ time. And knowing Brentford, they will probably sell him for £60 or £70 million.
“We have a solid sell on, so we will make millions off it, but to be fair to Matthew, I had a figure up-front and I never changed on the figure and he got the figure, bang.”