Manchester United have reportedly made “initial contact” to sign Wolverhampton Wanderers forward Matheus Cunha with the Brazilian international’s agent set to fly to England for “face-to-face talks” with prospective suitors.
TalkSPORT reveals the Red Devils are “interested” in Cunha with the club on the hunt “for a number 10 to fit into Ruben Amorim’s rigid 3-4-2-1 system.”
The Perfect Fit for Amorim
Cunha, 25, has thrived for Wolves this season in this exact formation, despite his side’s struggles. At times he has carried the Midlands club on his back, playing a pivotal role in guiding Wolves away from the relegation zone.
Cunha has scored 13 goals in the league this campaign. By comparison, Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee have combined for 12 league goals between them.
The Brazilian has also provided four assists while demonstrating excellent dribbling and ball progression abilities. He ranks in the 98th percentiles for progressive passes and successful take-ons, 95th for progressive carries and shot-creating actions and 97th for passes.
Put simply, Cunha makes things happen in the opposition half, in a way which Hojlund and Zirkzee both struggle to do while Alejandro Garnacho – United’s busiest attacker in the absence of Amad – often fails to be add the finishing touch to, despite good initial play.
Furthermore, the Wolves number ten is an extremely hard working player who combines the skill of South American samba with a potent pairing of physicality and pressing. He ranks in the 99th percentile for interceptions and 92nd for tackles and possesses a powerful frame well-suited to the rigours of English football – attributes which Amorim will welcome to his ranks.
The Three-Way Race
The report by talkSPORT contends there is a three-way race for Cunha emerging with United joined by Premier League rivals Arsenal and Nottingham Forest in the hunt for the 25-year-old.
However, talkSPORT reveals Arsenal are prioritising other players over the Brazilian with Spanish winger Nico Willians and Sporting CP striker Victor Gyokeres the Gunners’ first-choice targets.
Similarly, the report states Nottingham Forest retain a “firm interest” in Cunha but sources close to the 25-year-old reveal he “prefers to join a big-six club, even if Forest qualify for the Champions League.”
This could leave United with a free run at the Brazilian international with his contract containing a release clause worth around £62.5 million – a sizeable fee, but a manageable one for the Red Devils, despite the pressures of PSR.
Furthermore, Ben Jacobs (Give Me Sport) reveals Cunha would still be interested in a move to Old Trafford even if United do not win the Europa League and secure Champions League football next season.
At 25 years of age, a proven goal scorer with Premier League experience and a skillset which has excelled in the exact formation Amorim utilises, Cunha increasingly looks like a target United cannot afford to miss out on this summer. And talkSPORT’s report appears to suggest the Reds are right at the front of the queue to ensure they do not.
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Darragh Fox
Darragh is a writer for The Peoples Person who spent three years as a history graduate slowly realising football was by far the most interesting thing to write about.
