An update has emerged on Newcastle United and their pursuit of Chris Rigg to bolster their academy set-up...

What's the talk?

According to The Sun, the Magpies are plotting a swoop to sign the teenager for a fee in the region of £2.5m from their arch-rivals Sunderland.

The report claims that the Black Cats are desperate to keep hold of the gem but that they could struggle due to the volume of interest in his services.

It is claimed that fellow Premier League outfit Everton are also keen on him, although they are unwilling to go high enough to tempt the Championship side to cash in.

Elliot Anderson 2.0

By snapping up Rigg from Wearside in the coming weeks and months, Eddie Howe could unearth Newcastle's next midfield maestro from the academy.

Elliot Anderson has burst into the first-team squad this season after making his way up the ranks on Tyneside and has made three Premier League appearances so far this term.

The 19-year-old impressed enough in the youth set-up to earn a loan to Bristol Rovers and chipped in with seven goals and six assists in 20 starts during his time in League Two, catching Howe's eye and breaking into the senior team at Newcastle over the summer.

Rigg could now follow in his footsteps after seeing that there is a pathway for young players at St. James' Park. He knows that he will be given opportunities if he plays well enough and the hype around him suggests that he has the potential to embark on the journey.

Journalist Josh Bunting hailed the young talent back in August, Tweeting: "15 years of age and Chris Rigg is really impressing for Sunderland at 21’s level this afternoon. Making things happen, lovely and comfortable on the ball and confident at driving at the opposition. He is a key player to keep, can’t lose players like him at this stage."

The 15-year-old was directly involved in four goals in nine under-18 Premier League matches for the Black Cats last season, showing that he has a knack for making an impact in the final third from midfield.

Rigg recently captained England's youth team in a match against Italy and this suggests that he has the potential to be a leader on the pitch in the future. He has been called up by his country at under-15 and under-16 level and has impressed enough to be given the armband.

The teenager has, therefore, shown promise in his ability on the pitch as well as his maturity and leadership around his peers, which is why he has the potential to be a successful recruit for the academy at Newcastle. He could end up rising through the ranks before breaking into Howe's squad, just like Anderson, and that is why the Magpies must snap him up.