Premier League analysis: Why clubs like Manchester United need Matheus Cunha

As the end of the season swiftly approaches, anticipation is building ahead of the summer transfer window.

Wolverhampton Wanderers and Brazil forward Matheus Cunha is hot property, and with 17 goals and six assists this season, top clubs are beginning to circle like sharks to snap him up.

Manchester United appear to be leading the race for Wolves’ tricky Brazilian as Ruben Amorim looks to completely overhaul his attack at Old Trafford.

Here, Transfer News Blitz writer Gabriel Mills evaluates what Cunha could bring to the Red Devils.

Matheus Cunha set for Manchester United

In recent weeks, Man United have emerged as front-runners, and reports suggest the deal may be nearing completion.

Cunha signed a fresh four-year deal with Wolves in January, which included a £62.5million release clause, leaving fans of the Old Gold underwhelmed.

The forward’s passion, skill, athleticism and prolific rate at which he is scoring are what make Cunha and Premier League football a match made in heaven.

Will the 25-year-old fit like a glove in Amorim’s system, or will it be another failed transfer to add to the mile-long list for United?

Where does Matheus Cunha play best?

Cunha is at his best as a free-roaming number 10, able to drop deep and drive forward with the ball, and spearhead attacking plays with direct pace, power and a consistently good final ball. 

Amorim’s men are crying out for this kind of player, and the thought of Cunha and Bruno Fernandes in the same lineup has fans rightly excited. 

The extent to which Manchester United have fallen this season almost defies belief.

Supporters will hope the Brazil international can boost their poor scoring record of just 39 goals this season if he moves to Old Trafford.

Wolves currently sit 13th in the Premier League, a place above the Red Devils, largely due to his contributions in attack.

Is Matheus Cunha a ‘bad egg’?

The ex-Atletico Madrid player has rarely been able to keep himself out of the headlines this year, not always for the right reasons, to the frustration of his fan base.

Cunha was forced to serve a two-match suspension and fined after throwing an elbow and snatching a pair of glasses from a staff member in the aftermath of Wolves’ last-minute defeat to relegation rivals Ipswich Town.

Drama is probably the best word to describe Wolves’ campaign, which has seen the club’s captaincy change three times, a managerial switch and unsavoury full-time scenes on more than one occasion.

No match summed this up for Wolves and Cunha more than their 5th round FA Cup tie away to Bournemouth, when, trailing by a goal, the Brazilian unleashed a thunderous strike from 30 yards out which arrowed into the top corner.

After playing 120 minutes of football, a penalty shootout beckoned, until the other side of Cunha’s game was exposed.

The Brazilian lashed out at Cherries defender Milos Kerkez with a headbutt, a kick and a punch.

A red card unsurprisingly followed, Wolves lost their penalty taker, the shootout and also their best player for four crucial Premier League matches.

Have clubs been put off by Matheus Cunha’s antics?

Arsenal were interested in signing Cunha in January, however, it was reported that boss Mikel Arteta had ‘reservations’ about the forward’s character - a dig at his attitude this season.

This is clearly not enough of an issue to keep Manchester United away from a player who is level with the most Premier League goals scored by a Brazilian in a single season.

As for Wolves, they are currently on a six-game top-flight winning streak, their longest since 1970, and partially without their suspended top scorer, who has come back into the side with four goal contributions in three appearances.

The void created allowed players like Jørgen Strand Larsen, Jean-Ricner Bellegarde and midfielder Andre to step up and perform, which has given Wolves supporters more confidence for next season when Cunha inevitably leaves the West Midlands.

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