Régis Le Bris reacts to Jobe Bellingham and Chris Rigg transfer talk and explains his message for Sunderland pair
The youngster starring in Sunderland’s Championship campaign are attracting interest from elsewhere
Régis Le Bris is hopeful that Jobe Bellingham and Chris Rigg will see that their development is best served by staying with Sunderland as transfer speculation around the pair ramps up.
Both have a number of high-profile admirers after their excellent start to the campaign, with Bellingham reportedly the subject of strong interest from Borussia Dortmund. Sunderland supporters can take comfort from the fact that both signed new deals in the summer amid significant interest from top tiers across Europe. Le Bris says it is too early to anticipate what will happen both in the January window and beyond, but is confident that the pair understand the value of their current position at the club.
“We are talking together every day, and with the owner as well, with Kyril," Le Bris said.
"The question is not solved because we do not know what might happen in the future. It is not a subject that is on the table [currently] because that is not the reality of the situation. But 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 know the journey the players are on, but the environment is still complex. 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.
“I think it is important for them to be here until the challenge is not high enough for them," he added.
"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.”
Bellingham will serve the final game of his suspension when Sunderland face Millwall on Saturday, with Chris Rigg set for a key role in the starting XI.