Manchester United have an obvious transfer target for 2025 to help keep Ineos promise

It was not all that long ago that Manchester United could go out and hand-pick any player of their choice without any real form of competition.

But if they are to win the battle for one of English football's hottest prospects, they are going to have to dig out their boxing gloves and be prepared to fight.

Just four games into the new Championship campaign, Sunderland find themselves sitting pretty at the top of the table with a 100 per cent record.

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Their 3-1 win over Portsmouth secured a fourth win in as many games, meaning they have won each of their opening four league matches for the first time in 99 years. To say new head coach Regis Le Bris has made an immediate impact is an understatement.

Though Jude Bellingham's younger brother, Jobe, carries the most famous name in the squad, it is fellow youngster Chris Rigg who is attracting almost all of the attention.

The Hebburn-born midfielder, who celebrated his 17th birthday in June, has enjoyed a stellar start to the season, quickly establishing himself as the leading contender to win the prestigious Championship Young Player of the Season award. He is earning unrivalled levels of plaudits and one Portsmouth fan, who watched him play a key role in Sunderland's victory at Fratton Park at the weekend, wrote on social media that he is a "serious talent".

Making his first-team debut at the age of just 15, and becoming Sunderland's youngest-ever league goalscorer at the age of 16 exactly a year ago today, Rigg is already threatening to become a superstar. Black Cats supporters are in awe