If I was in charge of Newcastle United's transfers this is the Sunderland star I would sign

Newcastle United have been urged to make a move for a Championship star who has been likened to Manchester City's Phil Foden. With the January transfer window just weeks from opening, speculation is growing over who United could bring to St James' Park this winter - and one youngster currently impressing at Sunderland has been put forward as a possible option.

17-year-old Chris Rigg has played 15 times in all competitions this season and scored three times as Sunderland make a surprise charge for the title. The central midfielder only signed his first professional contract in July of this year but has already been linked with moves to Newcastle as well as Manchester United.

Speaking on The Everything is Black and White Podcast, the Daily Mirror's Simon Bird - who has covered Sunderland as well as Newcastle for the last 24 years - believes Rigg will be a big star and would be ideal for a move to Tyneside.

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"If you're going to invest now, get him cheaper and then make him into a star player, you'll be looking at Chris Rigg," he said. "I interviewed him three weeks ago and he is one smart, serious guy about his football. I've seen pictures of him when he was a kid standing outside the Bobby Robson statue - so he clearly has an affinity with Newcastle in his junior years.

"I've also seen him kiss the Sunderland badge when he scored and he's totally committed to his building his career at Sunderland because he's getting game time which you wouldn't get in the Premier League. He's learning, he's getting kicked about and he's making and scoring goals and he's determined, he's tough and he's an impish little player.

"He is sort of playing on one of the wings at Sunderland and tracking back so well, he's really good on the ball. He's the England under 19 captain. Why wait two or three years to nab him when his price will almost certainly have gone up to £50m or £60m? I would have thought Newcastle are looking at him now.

“He signed a new long-term deal at Sunderland last summer, which has kind of shored up his position there, and he signed it on the promise that he was going to get games. He didn't start the first couple but he's got into the team and he's developing brilliantly. I don't know if it's the right time in his development to move now. It might be the summer or the January after but he's certainly one to watch it.

"He runs like Phil Foden. He plays tricky, intricate passives like Phil Foden. That's definitely one that they must be looking at. It's tough to do deals with your rivals, but if you were shovelling Sunderland a load of cash, I'm sure they'd take it and reinvest elsewhere in their youthful squad."

You can listen to the full episode of Simon's Newcastle United transfer Q&A by clicking here or view here on YouTube.