Tottenham lead Arsenal and Manchester United in race to sign West Ham United teen Daniel Rigge
Tottenham are leading the race to sign West Ham teenager Daniel Rigge ahead of a pair of Premier League rivals, according to ESPN.
The outlet reported via their website on 26 April that the 18-year-old is also wanted by Arsenal and Manchester United but it is Spurs who are said to be best placed to land his signature.
Rigge has yet to make a first-team appearance for the Hammers but has stepped up to the under-21s this term while scoring regularly for the under-18s.
The versatile attacking midfielder only signed his first professional contract in October but is now subject to interest from multiple top flight sides.
West Ham to lose teenage talent to Premier League rivals?
If Rigge is impressing clubs around the Premier League to this degree then it surely wouldn’t be any sort of positive if he were to leave West Ham at this stage, from the club’s point of view at least.
David Moyes has been perceived as hesitant to throw youngsters into his senior side which has seemingly contributed to talented players looking to move on.
Sonny Perkins controversially left for Leeds United two years ago after just three outings for the club and Divin Mubama could depart the London Stadium when his contract expires this summer [The Athletic, 29 January].
Rigge may be a way off being ready to be a regular senior contributor yet but there is a clear need for help in the forward positions currently and losing a hot prospect from the next generation likely wouldn’t be popular.
As he is on professional terms that should mean the Irons still have a say on what happens with his future, but if the reported race to sign him is as serious as has been suggested it may not be good news for the club.
A change at manager is on the cards with Moyes seemingly now due to leave at the end of the season youngsters may feel there is a renewed pathway to the first team, depending on who comes in next.
So the club will have to hope that Rigge hasn’t had his head turned elsewhere if they plan to keep him in place long enough to threaten a breakthrough.
In other West Ham news, Jacob Steinberg has named a treble-winning manager as on the club’s shortlist to replace Moyes.
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