West Ham snap-up 16-year-old Man City wonderkid Dan Rigge in transfer coup beating number of Premier League rivals
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WEST HAM have pipped a number of Premier League rivals to the signing of youngster Dan Rigge from Manchester City.
The Hammers have with the sought-after midfielder, 16, ahead of a number of other Premier League clubs.
Liverpool had offered Rigge a trial with their academy sides but the youngster chose to take up the firm offer from West Ham instead, while Wolves and Leicester City were also in the mix.
The east Londoners have been tracking Rigge for some time.
The midfielder played a few games on trial for the Hammers in January, with the blessing of Manchester City, before returning to see out the season up north.
Now the campaign is out of the way, the path has been cleared to strike a deal to bring him to the capital.
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Rigge is seen as a bright prospect by those at West Ham and he will go in to work with their academy sides from next season.
The midfielder has represented England at Under-16 level, making his debut in April this year against the Netherlands.
Meanwhile, West Ham remain in talks with academy striker Sonny Perkins over a new deal.
The forward, who made a handful of appearances off the bench for David Moyes' senior side last season, has 12 months left on his deal.
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Premier League rivals Leeds United have been linked with the 18-year-old.
On the other hand, West Ham are set to lose youngster Emmanuel Longelo, as a number of clubs monitor him ahead of a potential summer move.
They are also set to listen to offers for Said Benrahma in order to make room for the potential arrival of Jesse Lingard, whose contract expires at Manchester United later this month.