(Credit: Imago)

West Ham eye Chris Rigg and Sunderland team-mate in major summer revamp

Alex is a lifelong Sunderland supporter who's been reporting on Mackem News since April 2025. Indeed, he started working for Breaking Media in April and has since graduated from St Mary's University as a NCTJ Gold Standard-accredited journalist, having completed his Master's degree in Sports Journalism. Alex previously worked for Football League World and has featured on the Roker Report, providing his opinion on all things Sunderland. While getting to the games is tricky, given his job, one of the highlights of his life was watching (and crying) as the Black Cats defeated Sheffield United at Wembley Stadium last season.

Published on:

09 Jun 2025, 10:40 am

West Ham United are keen on Chris Rigg and another Sunderland player as part of a major summer overhaul at the London Stadium.

It was a turbulent campaign for the Hammers, with Graham Potter unable to turn the tide after Julen Lopetegui's departure.

Several long-serving players have already departed the London Stadium, including Vladimir Coufal, Lukasz Fabianski and Aaron Cresswell.

Now the Irons are targeting Sunderland's budding squad, with a move for Rigg on the agenda.

Rigg has enjoyed a stellar season for Sunderland (Credit: Imago)

West Ham target youth amid Sunderland transfer links

The outlook at West Ham has been grim for some time, with Potter unable to improve on Lopetegui's rather forgetful spell in charge.

To make matters worse, the Hammers are in a sticky financial situation, with PSR issues stifling their transfer strategy.

The Irons will have to sell some of their prized assets if they are to sign new players, with Mohammed Kudus tipped to leave the London Stadium.

West Ham have let several ageing players depart East London amid a strategy to sign young players as part of a revamp.

Players who will depart West Ham this summer

Vladimir Coufal, Lukasz Fabianski, Aaron Cresswell, Danny Ings, Kurt Zouma,

Several long-serving players will depart the London Stadium

Players do not come much younger than Rigg, who has been a Sunderland regular, having made his debut aged 15.

The Hammers are also reportedly interested in Rigg's colleague Eliezer Mayenda, according to The Guardian (9 June).

Mayenda enjoyed a breakthrough season at the Stadium of Light and was on the scoresheet in the Championship play-off final.

Mayenda dons his sunglasses after Sunderland's triumph (Credit: Imago)

Rigg and Mayenda are stars of the future

As West Ham prepare for a fresh transfer approach, they are targeting players for the future in Rigg and Mayenda.

Rigg enjoyed a regular starting place under Regis Le Bris and flourished in the first half of the Championship season.

As for Mayenda, he also emerged during the last campaign as a real goal-scoring threat, bagging eight league goals and two in the play-offs.

That might not sound like a lot to Hammers supporters, but his strength, power, and ability to run at defenders have been a real highlight.

Of course, West Ham need players who can slot straight into the team, given their woeful Premier League season.

Sunderland's duo would be a shrewd acquisition, although they will not come cheap.

Chris Rigg