Manchester United have reached an agreement to sign Wolverhampton Wanderers star Matheus Cunha, according to a report from Brazil.
Cunha, 25, has quickly emerged as United’s primary target this summer with widespread agreement at Old Trafford that the versatile forward is the perfect fit in Ruben Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 system as a number ten.
The Brazilian international has scored an impressive 14 goals in just 28 Premier League games – providing a further four assists – despite playing for one of the division’s worst sides.
By comparison, Amorim’s favoured attacking unit at United at present, owing to injuries, comprising Rasmus Hojlund, Joshua Zirkzee and Alejandro Garnacho, have combined for just 11 goals between them this season.
The Red Devils’ struggles in the opposition box have been stark with only five teams in the Premier League – West Ham, Everton and the three promoted sides, Ipswich Town, Leicester Cit and Southampton – scoring fewer times than their vastly more expensive rivals in Manchester.
Cunha’s quality on the ball and his physicality off it, in conjunction with his attacking threat, have led United to view him as an essential addition this summer to improve these goal-scoring woes.
Reports had gathered pace this week over a summer switch to Manchester with the 25-year-old’s contract at Molineux containing a £62.5 million release clause. However, Wolves are open to this figure being paid in instalments, rather than up as an upfront fee, as is usually the case with release clauses.
This makes the deal much more manageable from United’s perspective with the financial situation at Old Trafford a limited one due to the pressures of PSR.
But it appears a breakthrough has been reached, according to Brazilian journalist Raisa Simplicio, who reports for Goal that the “English giant have reached an agreement and will pay [Cunha’s] release clause.”
“Matheus Cunha’s good performances over the last two seasons have seen United eye the 25-year-old Brazilian. Arsenal and Nottingham Forest have both shown interest in the player, but United have taken the lead and decided to make a big move for the Brazilian.
“The negotiation is all tied up and should be completed at the end of the European season, even before the transfer window opens.”
While The Peoples Person would advise excited United fans wait for a more reliable outlet to confirm this story, the speed with which Cunha has emerged as the main target at Old Trafford this week after positive talks with the Brazilian’s international, suggests this deal is more a case of when, rather than if.
Featured image Carl Recine via Getty Images
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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.
