Manchester United nears deal for Matheus Cunha amid transfer interest from rivals

The winner of the fierce recruitment competition appears to be Manchester United. Manchester United is on the verge of signing Matheus Cunha (26, Wolverhampton Wanderers), who is gaining immense popularity.

European football transfer expert Fabrizio Romano noted on the 25th (Korean time) via his personal social media that "Manchester United is confident it will finalize a deal with Cunha soon. The negotiations are in advanced stages, and further contact will take place to complete the agreement. Cunha is eager for the transfer. Manchester United is also prioritizing him and plans to follow official procedures."

He also added, "Manchester United is prepared to pay a buyout clause of £62.5 million (approximately 119.5 billion won) to Wolverhampton over installments within a few years as part of the deal with Cunha," stating that "beautiful news is coming for Manchester United fans."

Cunha also appears to be sincere about joining Manchester United. According to Romano, while he is receiving interest from other teams, his active interest in Manchester United suggests that the UEFA Champions League (UCL) matches will not be a problem. Manchester United, sitting at 14th in the Premier League, has lower chances of qualifying for the UCL next season compared to other competing teams. The only scenario is winning the UEFA Europa League (UEL).

Cunha, whom Manchester United fans are waiting for, is a versatile asset capable of playing not only as a striker but also as a winger. Hailing from Brazil, he possesses excellent ball-handling skills, strong shooting, and linking abilities. He has scored 16 goals and assisted 4 times in just 31 matches this season, leading the team in scoring.

In fact, Cunha has been a player to watch in Europe since he was young. He did not shine significantly at Leipzig, Hertha Berlin, or Atletico Madrid, but he has flourished in the Premier League. Since joining Wolverhampton in 2023, Cunha has recorded 31 goals and 13 assists in 85 matches. He has shown excellent synergy by combining for 5 goals with Hee-chan Hwang.

As Cunha's performances continue, numerous big clubs in the Premier League are eyeing him. According to the British 'BBC', not only Manchester United but also Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, Newcastle, and other so-called top teams are all pursuing Cunha's acquisition. Tottenham has also considered signing Cunha for some time, with projections suggesting the possibility of renewing the club's all-time highest transfer fee.

In particular, Cunha could have transferred to Arsenal during the last winter transfer market. Arsenal approached him as attacking resources such as Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz, and Gabriel Jesus were all injured. However, Cunha rejected the offers to help save the Wolverhampton team, which was struggling near the relegation zone.

Cunha expressed his affection for Wolverhampton last month, saying, "Sometimes what we want in life is just affection. Players are also human, and they face difficulties. A bit of understanding is needed. Wolves brought me back that joy. I am really thankful." He added, "There were many transfer offers. But if I had transferred, I wouldn't have felt good. There are things I cannot control, but I couldn't leave a team that was near relegation in the middle of the season."

However, now Cunha dreams of a new challenge, leaving behind his ties with Wolverhampton. He announced that he intends to leave Wolverhampton, despite signing a new contract in February. Including a buyout clause in the new contract was also a strategic move for a summer transfer.

In a recent interview with the British 'Guardian', Cunha stated, "Now we have almost achieved the goal of remaining (in the league). But I made it clear that we need to take the next step. I want to fight for championships or something big. I have potential," publicly declaring his intent to transfer.

There were also numerous predictions that Arsenal would approach Cunha again to finalize the signing. However, the situation changed as Manchester United moved proactively. The British 'BBC' reported that "Manchester United is interested in signing Wolverhampton striker Cunha this summer," adding that "Cunha is expected to leave Molineux Stadium (Wolverhampton's home ground) at the end of the season."

The media stated, "According to several club sources, not only Cunha but also Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap (22 years old) is one of the various attacking options receiving Manchester United's interest. Improving Manchester United's scoring capability is the top priority for manager Ruben Amorim. Manchester United has scored 38 goals in 33 matches this season. Only Southampton, Leicester City, Ipswich, Everton, and West Ham have recorded fewer goals than this."

The BBC predicted that Cunha would fit well into Manchester United. The media noted, "Cunha is regarded as an ideal player to play in one of the two attacking midfielder positions in Amorim's preferred 3-4-2-1 formation. He is currently performing under a similar system with coach Vitor Pereira at Wolverhampton."

Manchester United has had its sights set on Cunha since 2022. At that time, Manchester United contacted Cunha's agent, who was playing at Atletico Madrid, to explore transfer possibilities. However, the deal fell through over transfer fee issues, and Cunha eventually joined Wolverhampton on loan with a full transfer option included. Now, Manchester United is attempting to sign Cunha again after three years.

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