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Sunderland send message to Chris Rigg and Jobe Bellingham ahead of January window
THEY might be two of the most in-demand youngsters in European football, but Regis Le Bris has told Chris Rigg and Jobe Bellingham they are getting the best football education possible at Sunderland.
The midfield duo have been pretty much ever-present when available in the league this season, with Rigg having established himself as a Championship regular despite only having turned 17 in June and Bellingham firmly cemented as a key part of Sunderland’s starting side even though he only turned 19 in September.
The duo’s performances have set tongues wagging across Europe, with Rigg having been linked with the likes of Manchester United, Crystal Palace and Brentford ahead of the January window and Bellingham having been touted for a possible move to Borussia Dortmund, where he would be following in the footsteps of his elder brother, Jude.
Le Bris is well aware of the growing speculation over the future of the two teenagers, and holds regular discussions with both Kyril Louis-Dreyfus and Kristjaan Speakman over transfer issues. He accepts that players can outgrow their surroundings, but is confident both Rigg and Bellingham would benefit from remaining with Sunderland for at least the remainder of the current campaign.
“I think with these players, they are involved in the project, and they know that they can improve in this team,” said the Black Cats boss. “So, from a personal perspective, it is good for them, and also to be part of this journey as well.
“It is rare to have this. Sometimes, you can go a whole career without having these elements – where you are in a club, you like that club, you are improving, and you believe in a very interesting journey.
“I think it is important for them to be here until the challenge is not high enough for them. Probably, when they feel that they need something more to develop, that should be the right moment to leave.
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“But at the minute, for both players, I think they are still in the right zone for their career development. They need to play, and they need to learn. They need to learn about playing in a collective style, so for them, I think the culture we have here is still working for them. I think the graph of their learning is still going up at a good level.”
Le Bris boasts extensive experience in youth development, having led the academies of both Rennes and Lorient. He has helped guide a host of young players through their footballing development, but has also seen talented youngsters opt to jump ship at an early stage of their progress.
Both Rigg and Bellingham will be guided by their respective representatives, who will inevitably have financial considerations at play. However, the Sunderland boss will continue to stress the importance of career development above the understandable desire to move on to a perceived ‘bigger club’.
“I know the journey the players are on, but the environment is still complex,” he said. “From a rational perspective, it is very clear, but sometimes you do not know what else in going on in the environment that a player is in. Sometimes, that can make them make another decision.
“I am sure other clubs are noticing the players we have, but it is better that way. It means you are doing well.”
While Bellingham has been away on international duty with England Under-21s in the last fortnight, Le Bris has been working closely with Rigg on the training pitches at the Academy of Light.
And, with Bellingham and Alan Browne both unavailable for tomorrow’s trip to Millwall, the teenager could be set for a modified midfield role at the Den.
“I spoke with Riggy (in training),” said Le Bris. “He played as a ten, but I wanted him to play in a different position, a bit deeper on the pitch.
“I realised that he is still 17, so his level of experience is not huge. We have to manage this player, with his quality and his capacity to learn very quickly.
“He played deeper in training this morning. I think he can play well in both – he said he used to play in that position (for England Under-16s), I did not know. I am more confident now that he can do that.
“It was in a training session, so the reality comes in a competitive game, when he has to do it for 90 minutes against a strong team. That is different. The continuity of a game is very different, but it was good this morning, no problem.”
