“I understand it now, I will not understand it next time.”

The Brazilian forward was one of his side’s better players, managing five shots in total, two tackles and one key pass but it was always going to be an uphill task against Enzo Maresca’s side.

Such comments from the manager have come at a sensitive time given the transfer rumours and interest in Cunha from the likes of Arsenal and Manchester United – both of whom would love to acquire the services of the attacker who is enjoying a strong campaign.

Cunha has 10 goals and four assists this season in the league and has shown a wide variety of different qualities that include solo efforts, goals from distance and an overall all-round improvement despite featuring in a struggling side.

Transfer guru Romano offered an update on his current situation on X following the game, claiming that Cunha is ‘one to watch’ for the rest of the month as contract talks stall.

‘Cunha’s situation from now to end of January remains one to watch. New deal not formally signed yet as reported two days ago, clubs showing interest with Arsenal still keen and not only…

‘Vitor Pereira’s post-match words yesterday were also strong.’

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Interest from Man Utd and Arsenal

Mikel Arteta’s side could seek to bring in Cunha to help fill the void left by the injured Gabriel Jesus who has been ruled out for the season. Kai Havertz has toiled in the number nine role while Leandro Trossard as a false nine has been rarely utilised.

One report from Spain claims Arsenal want Cunha in January whose asking price is set at £60million, which is £7.5million less than the fee paid for Havertz.

They do face competition from Man United, however, who need to strengthen under Ruben Amorim to avoid another catastrophic season. Cunha is seen as a potential target but the competition may rule them out of a deal.

While he remains a target, the report states that they are eyeing a double swoop with Rayan Ait-Nouri as well but Wolves are hoping to hold onto the key duo until the end of the season to ensure their Premier League survival.

Former Manchester United defender Wes Brown believes manager Ruben Amorim was playing one of the few cards he has at his disposal when he attempted to stir a reaction from his players by publicly humiliating them after the 3-1 home defeat against Brighton on Sunday.

Amorim’s post-match press conference after United’s latest home defeat created as many headlines as the disastrous performance of his team in front of their Old Trafford fans, as he suggested this current team may be the worst in the entire history of the club.

“We are the worst team maybe in the history of Manchester United,” declared Amorim.

“I know you want headlines, but I am saying that because we have to acknowledge that and to change that.

“I am not going to change, no matter what. I know we can succeed, but we need to survive this moment. I am not naive. We need to survive now.”

Now Brown has given his reaction to those spiky comments from Amorim, as the former defender who won five Premier League titles and two Champions League crowns during his time at United spoke exclusively to Football365.

When asked whether he agreed with Amorim’s suggestion that this is the worst United team of all-time, he gave us this response.

“If you look at where we are in the league, it is fair to say that,” he stated with NewBettingSites.uk “I can’t remember when United have been where we are now. We are struggling game in, game out.

“Okay, so we pick it up for certain games, but it is one of them that we have to accept where we are and get out of it together.

“That is what he is trying to get over to the players. This is where we are and regardless of whatever you may think, this is the situation we are and if we don’t pull out of it together, we will be here for the rest of the season.

“He is trying to get some kind of a reaction and I’m sure he is clever enough to realise that unless he can get more from them, this team are going to be in the same position all season.”

Brown went on to suggest Amorim’s brutal condemnation of his team may be evidence that he is facing up to a bigger job than he imagined at United after he agreed to succeed Erik ten Hag.

Amorim has lost seven of his first 15 matches in charge of United and Brown believes he will need a long time to get the team back on track.

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“Everyone does their research before they take on a job and he knew it was going to be hard, but you never know the full story until you get there,” he added.

“He hasn’t had the chance to bring in his own players yet, so all he can do is try and get the players are already there to play as he wants them to and it won’t be easy.

“We have seen snippets of performances that have been good for 20 minutes here and there, but not consistently, as you would expect from United.

“Some individual players have stepped up at times, but it is not what he wants at this moment and he knows it will take time to get there.

“Everyone understands we have to be patient with this manager and give him some time, but we still need to win games and pick up points and win games while they are trying to make those improvements.”

Amorim’s odds of being the next Premier League manager to lose his job were slashed after Sunday’s home defeat against Brighton and the comments he offered to the media after the match.

Now he needs to get a positive reaction from his players to ensure this latest Manchester United crisis does not claim another manager in double quick time.

The agents of Chelsea-linked Man Utd winger Alejandro Garnacho were at Stamford Bridge to watch the Blues beat Wolves on Monday night.

Garnacho is reportedly a Chelsea transfer target, though Serie A giants Napoli are also believed to be interested.

The Naples outfit recently sold Khvicha Kvaratskhelia to Paris Saint-Germain for around £60million and the Man Utd forward is an option Antonio Conte is considering.

Garnacho was viewed as an ‘untouchable’ asset a year ago but Red Devils owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe is now reportedly willing to listen to offers for every first-team player.

This has caught the eye of Chelsea, who probably would not have registered an interest if Ratcliffe’s stance had not changed.

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Enzo Maresca’s side have plenty of depth in wide positions but they are still ‘considering’ signing Garnacho this month, according to transfer expert Ben Jacobs.

Jacobs posted an image from the stands of Chelsea’s Premier League win over Wolves on Monday on social media, reporting that Garnacho’s agents Carlos Cambeiro and Quique De Lucas were in attendance.

He wrote on X: ‘Both Carlos Cambeiro and Quique De Lucas from Alejandro Garnacho’s Lead3rs agency are at Stamford Bridge this evening. Garnacho one of the options Chelsea are considering.’

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Spanish journalist Eduardo Burgos shared Jacobs’ post, adding that Chelsea ‘will try to sign’ Garnacho in the January transfer window.

Burgos says Man Utd’s asking price is 70 million euros and they ‘are not negotiating’.

Red Devils head coach Ruben Amorim is clearly a fan of Garnacho, starting him against Southampton last Thursday despite the persistent transfer rumours.

Amorim did drop the 20-year-old from his matchday squad for a Premier League match against Manchester City on December 15 due to his application off the pitch but the player has featured in every game since.

As touched on before, Napoli are also in the race to sign Garnacho in the winter transfer window.

Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio claimed on Monday that Man Utd and Napoli have ‘scheduled a meeting’ to discuss a transfer.

Di Marzio states that Man Utd officials will also discuss the transfer of wing-back Patrick Dorgu with Napoli’s Serie A rivals Lecce:

A meeting between Napoli and Manchester United is scheduled to understand the conditions of the operation for Garnacho.

The Napoli transfer market continues, which is looking for Kvaratskhelia’s replacement. In recent days, the Georgian’s move to PSG has been made official with the Azzurri now wanting to give the right replacement to Antonio Conte.

Tomorrow, January 21, Manchester United will meet Lecce as far as Dorgu is concerned. A meeting with Napoli for Garnacho is also scheduled.

The negotiation, therefore, will get underway with the Azzurri who will try to understand the conditions for the operation. The Argentine born in 2004 took part in 21 Premier League games this season in which he scored 3 goals and provided 1 assist.

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Man Utd winger Alejandro Garnacho is edging closer to a move away from Old Trafford after speaking to Napoli boss Antonio Conte, according to reports.

The Red Devils have had a terrible first half of the season with Ruben Amorim unable to turn things around after replacing the sacked Erik ten Hag in November.

Amorim’s side had put a couple of good performances against Liverpool and Arsenal recently but two poor displays against Southampton – although they won 3-1 – and Brighton have squeezed the positive energy out of many Man Utd fans.

Yankuba Minteh put Brighton ahead against Man Utd at Old Trafford on Sunday before Bruno Fernandes scored a penalty to bring the Red Devils level before half-time.

But Kaoru Mitoma and Georginio Rutter scored two second-half goals to give Brighton a 3-1 win and see Man Utd remain 13th in the Premier League table.

Man Utd are hoping to provide Amorim with some reinforcements but it’s understood that they will have to sell before they buy anyone in the January transfer window.

One player who is attracting lots of interest is Garnacho with the Man Utd winger the subject of two bids from Napoli, while Tottenham are also reportedly keen on his services.

And now Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport insist that Napoli could seal a deal for Garnacho ‘in 48 hours’ as the Italian club face ‘decisive days’ in their pursuit of the Man Utd winger.

Garnacho has always been ‘first on the winter list’ after losing Khvicha Kvaratskhelia to Paris Saint-Germain and the report has revealed that the Man Utd starlet has had a phone call from Napoli boss Conte.

The report adds:

‘Napoli have put 50 million euros on the table but the Red Devils, caught in the grip of Financial Fair Play, want to capitalise as much as possible on the sale of an Academy product who would be a net profit on the balance sheet and have put 60 million pounds on the table.

‘The blue club could reach 60 million euros (£50m): they could, and in any case no more. The agreement with Garnacho is close, it seems he has also spoken on the phone with Conte , while the sporting director [Giovanni] Manna will meet United in the next few hours: tomorrow, at the latest later.’

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Napoli sporting director Giovanni Manna suggested on Saturday that they are looking to land Garnacho before the transfer deadline but only on “Napoli’s terms”.

When asked directly about a potential move for Garnacho, Manna said: “We are making some assessments, he is an important player, but he is not ours.

“We must not get carried away even if we know that an important player has left, a top player as the manager defined him and therefore the expectations are high. But we will do something on Napoli’s terms.”