Arsenal and one other Premier League club are interested by hijacking Manchester United’s move for Matheus Cunha, based on reports.
The Red Devils are believed to be leading the race to sign Cunha, 25, despite interest from several other top-flight clubs.
Brazil international Cunha has been a key player for Wolves since his move from Atletico Madrid in 2023, scoring 31 goals across his last two seasons at Molineux.
Cunha’s impressive numbers come despite the Midlands club slipping right into a relegation battle for a lot of the season, although five straight wins lifted them to thirteenth – above Europa League finalists Manchester United and Tottenham.
Quite a few clubs expressed interest in signing Cunha in January however the 25-year-old actually ended the window by putting pen to paper on a brand new contract with Wolves.
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He only did so within the knowledge Wolves wouldn’t stand in his way this summer, nonetheless, and Cunha is offered for £62.5m as a consequence of a release clause in his contract.
The emergence of that buy-out clause sparked interest from several clubs but Manchester United are said to be leading the race, having opened talks with Wolves last month.
United are currently in talks with Cunha’s representatives over his personal terms, with the player keen to maneuver to Old Trafford despite the club’s dismal Premier League form.
Winning the Europa League – United face Tottenham in the ultimate on May 21 – and qualifying for next season’s Champions League could be a lift to Cunha and other players considering signing for Ruben Amorim.
Cunha has reportedly been left impressed with the sporting project at Manchester United and is happy at the potential for working under ex-Sporting Lisbon boss Amorim.
Nonetheless, with a deal yet to be agreed Cunha’s team are still weighing up their options and have a gathering scheduled with Arsenal to debate a move to north London, based on talkSPORT.
Arsenal registered interest in Cunha throughout the January transfer window and Mikel Arteta is eager to bolster his attacking options this summer to take the Gunners to the following level.
The Champions League semi-final defeat to PSG has condemned Arsenal to a fifth successive season with no season, with Arteta’s side even facing a fight to complete second within the Premier League.
Considered one of the teams on Arsenal’s tail – Newcastle United – are also eyeing a summer move for Cunha, who has scored 17 goals and made six assists this season.
Moving to St James’ Park is an increasingly attractive proposition for players, with Newcastle ending their long wait for a serious trophy by winning the Carabao Cup under Eddie Howe and searching good for Champions League qualification.
Cunha’s Wolves teammate Jorgen Strand Larsen recently heaped praise on the Brazilian and all but admitted he expected him to go away at the tip of the season.
‘He’s a tremendous player,’ Norway international Larsen said. ‘Hopefully we are able to keep him for a very long time, but you recognize how it really works.
‘A player like him, scoring goals, giving assists, having great games, it’s difficult to maintain, obviously. But he’s such a tremendous guy off the pitch after which on the pitch.
‘You’ll be able to all see it. I don’t must inform you anything. He gives passes you possibly can’t really see. My goal last weekend, it wouldn’t occur if his pass wasn’t really, really top.
‘So yeah, amazing player and hopefully we are able to enjoy more of him. But I can imagine there shall be loads of interest, yeah.’
Wolves finish their Premier League campaign with fixtures against Brighton, Crystal Palace and Brentford before Cunha looks set to bid farewell to the club.
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