Runner-up Manchester United is acquiring a new big striker. They have virtually confirmed the signing of Matheus Cunha (26, Wolverhampton Wanderers).

Fabrizio Romano, who is proficient in the European football transfer market, noted on the 26th (Korea time) via his social media, "Cunha is heading to Manchester United. A verbal agreement has been reached among all parties involved." He also did not forget his signature phrase 'Here we go!' when the transfer is virtually confirmed.

Romano added, "Cunha will sign a contract with Manchester United until June 2030, with an option for a one-year extension. Wolverhampton will receive the £62.5 million (approximately 115.7 billion won) buyout amount through partitioning."

Manchester United is expected to pay Cunha's transfer fee over 3 to 4 years, in order to avoid violating the Premier League's revenue and sustainability regulations (PSR).

Nevertheless, Manchester United is on the verge of acquiring Cunha. He is a versatile resource capable of playing as both a striker and a winger. Cunha, being Brazilian, excels in ball handling skills, with powerful shooting and linking abilities. He performed as the ace for Wolverhampton this season with 36 appearances, 17 goals, and 6 assists.

Cunha has been a highly regarded player in Europe since his youth. While he did not have significant success at RB Leipzig, Hertha Berlin, or Atletico Madrid, he blossomed after arriving in the Premier League. Since joining Wolverhampton in 2023, Cunha has recorded 33 goals and 15 assists in 90 matches. He has also displayed good chemistry, contributing 5 goals in collaboration with Hwang Hee-chan.

As Cunha continued to excel, many big clubs in the Premier League began to take notice. During the last winter transfer window, he could have transferred to Arsenal. Arsenal, which saw attacking players like Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz, and Gabriel Jesus fall injured, approached him. However, Cunha rejected the love call to help save Wolverhampton, which was struggling in the relegation zone.

Remaining at Wolverhampton, Cunha saved the team from relegation threats. He is now set to embark on a new challenge at Manchester United. In an interview with 'The Guardian' last month, Cunha stated, "We have almost achieved our (survival) goal. But I want to make it clear that we need to take the next step. I want to fight for victories and big things. I have the potential," publicly declaring his desire to transfer.

Cunha's choice is Manchester United. Leading British media outlets such as 'BBC' and 'Sky Sports' had previously reported that he loves Manchester United, indicating that there are no major variables regarding his transfer. Furthermore, Cunha seems unconcerned about Manchester United's failure to qualify for the UEFA Champions League (UCL).

Manchester United's last hope for victory was thwarted by Tottenham in the UEFA Europa League (UEL). If they had won just once more, they could have claimed a significant amount, but they ended up being the sacrifice for Son Heung-min's first title. The failure to qualify for the UCL next season has also turned into a pipe dream, resulting in a financial loss of £100 million (approximately 185.1 billion won). With over £1 billion (approximately 1.85 trillion won) in liabilities, this is a crippling blow for Manchester United.

Despite everything, Cunha decided not to change his mind and chose Manchester United. According to Sky Sports, he received love calls from five Premier League clubs this summer but is on the verge of joining Manchester United. It was reported that not only Arsenal and Aston Villa but also Saudi Arabian clubs were willing to activate Cunha's buyout clause.

Now, Cunha is expected to take on the role of an attacking midfielder in a 3-4-2-1 formation under manager Ruben Amorim. Earlier, the BBC stated, "Cunha is regarded as the ideal player to play in one of the two attacking midfielder positions in the 3-4-2-1 formation preferred by Amorim. He is currently performing in a similar system under coach Vitor Pereira at Wolverhampton."

'ESPN' also mentioned, "Amorim is eager to sign Cunha. He identified Cunha as the perfect player to take on one of the No. 10 roles in his 3-4-3 system. Sources indicate that Manchester United has also examined Crystal Palace's Eberechi Eze and Brentford's Bryan Mbeumo."

Manchester United hopes that Cunha will help resolve their serious scoring issues. Rasmus Hojlund, who was supposed to play the role of a problem-solver this season, scored only 4 goals in the league, while Joshua Zirkzee contributed just 3 goals. As a result, Manchester United managed to score just 44 goals in 38 matches, finishing at 16th place in the Premier League scoring rankings. Cunha, who will be the first striker signing under manager Amorim, must deliver a different performance.

In fact, Manchester United had an eye on Cunha back in 2022. At that time, they contacted Cunha's agent, who was playing at Atletico Madrid, to explore the possibility of a transfer. However, the transfer did not materialize due to issues with the transfer fee, and ultimately, Cunha joined Wolverhampton on loan with a full transfer option. After three years, Manchester United is set to meet Cunha again.

[Photo] ⓒGettyimages (Unauthorized reproduction and redistribution prohibited), Romano, B/R Football, NORTFX, Sky Sports.

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