Jobe Bellingham’s imminent exit has one silver lining for Sunderland, Black Cats have a new priority

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While Sunderland fans await confirmation of Jobe Bellingham’s exit from the club this summer, it seems the club’s hierarchy are already turning their attention to other problems they need to solve.

It seems crazy to think that Sunderland, in the wake of their amazing Championship play-off victory, are now bracing themselves to lose one of their best players.

Still, clearly Jobe Bellingham has other ideas for his career path, with a move to the Bundesliga and Borussia Dortmund now very much on the cards.

There are some delays to Bellingham’s switch, though, with Sunderland and Dortmund thought to be a few million pounds apart in their valuations.

However, as that situation develops, the club is not wasting any time in securing the future of one of its best and brightest.

• READ MORE: Sunderland contract talks with key duo ‘will happen’ in summer window amid interest from Premier League clubs

Jobe Bellingham out, Chris Rigg to stay put?

As per Alan Nixon on Patreon, it is thought Sunderland are now pushing ahead with persuading Chris Rigg to commit his long-term future to the club.

The Black Cats are now ready to open contract talks with Rigg, whose current deal runs to 2027. The problem is that Rigg, though on a fairly big wage for his age, is obviously worth more now after his rise to stardom.

His current salary is said to be far below the average he could get in the Premier League were he to move on, and Sunderland want to make sure that doesn’t happen.

Rigg has been one of the best players in the Championship over the last two seasons, and will now get the chance to show what he can do on the biggest stage with the club that raised him. That is, if he commits to this new deal.

With Bellingham on the way out, the Mackems will surely be desperate to ensure another of their top talents doesn’t follow him out of the door.

• READ MORE: Enzo Le Fee reveals why Sunderland’s Championship play-off final was ‘most important game of his life’

Comparing Jobe Bellingham and Chris Rigg for 2024/25

Big things are expected of Jobe at Dortmund, but he will also leave behind a big hole at Sunderland, and someone will have to step in there.

Rigg is not necessarily the player to compensate for Jobe’s absence, of course. They are slightly different players, with the former being more of an advanced playmaker, and Germany-bound Bellingham more of a deep-lying 8 of a midfielder.

But, if we look at the statistics of both players for this season, it’s pretty fair to say that Bellingham has the more impressive numbers across the board.

From goal contributions, to tackling, touches, passing, and chance creation, Rigg lags behind his teammate in every aspect.

The 17-year-old will now have to step up and show what he can do in the Premier League next season to prove that he can be the main man on Wearside for years to come. Can Rigg evolve from a great prospect into the kind of player who can impact games week in, week out? Only time will tell.