Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris has insisted that Chris Rigg and Jobe Bellingham are best served to stay put for the time being despite being linked with moves away from the club.
Rigg has been heavily linked with a move to Manchester United after showcasing his talents in his 40 competitive appearances for Sunderland's first team.
Man United are believed to be keeping a close eye on the 17-year-old's performances as they weigh up a potential move for the highly-rated talent.
The England Under-18 international is also attracting interest from Chelsea and Real Madrid after being touted as 'the next Roy Keane'.
Rigg's Sunderland teammate, Bellingham, is also being linked with a move away amid transfer interest from Borussia Dortmund.
According to journalist Christian Falk, Dortmund believe that the 19-year-old can make a 'similar impact' as his brother Jude Bellingham, who left the Championship for the German club in 2020.
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Le Bris urges Rigg, Bellingham to stay at Sunderland
Le Bris has acknowledged that the time may come for Rigg and Bellingham to try a fresh challenge, but the Sunderland boss believes that they are currently in the best place for their development and should stay put for the time being.
The Sunderland head coach told reporters: "I think with these players, they are involved in the project, and they know that they can improve in this team.
"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 am confident for the future.
"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.
"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."
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Sunderland in strong negotiating position
While Rigg and Bellingham may be attracting significant interest, Sunderland will be in a strong position when it comes to negotiating a fee or warding off any transfer bids.
Rigg is under contract until the summer of 2027 after signing a new three-year deal with the club in July, while Bellingham extended his contract in August until June 2028.
As a result, Sunderland would demand significant fees if they are to consider parting ways with the midfielders in the near future.
They will also be reluctant to sanction any key departures in the January window, with the club looking to win promotion to the Premier League.
