Wolverhampton Wanderers striker Matheus Cunha is on the verge of agreeing a new contract, according to reports, in a blow to Arsenal, Manchester United and his many other suitors.
Cunha signed for Wolves on an initial loan when the club was in its infancy Premier League table midway through the 2022/23 season, before joining on a permanent deal worth £44m after helping the club secure safety.
Respectable catch 12 Premier League goals during his first full season in England – more than Manchester City’s Julian Alvarez by comparison – attracted plenty of admiring glances from across the division.
The Brazilian has somehow managed to thrive this season despite the club’s collective struggles, inspiringly strong interest from Arsenal and talk of Manchester United’s approach this January.
However, those clubs have had those ambitions dashed by numerous reports claiming Cunha is close to agreeing a new, long-term deal with Wolves. The Telegraph write that it is in “advanced discussions” and that an announcement should be made “within the next two weeks.”
Fabrizio Romano reports that a contract extension was verbally agreed upon and would afford Cunha a pay raise.
Despite the 25-year-old’s best efforts – and an unbeaten start to life under new manager Vitor Pereira – Wolves stay in the bottom three. Cunha’s new contract will reportedly include a relegation break clause, allowing rival clubs to pay a pre-agreed and as yet undisclosed fee for the striker in the event of relegation.
Pereira made that clear that he had no intention of sanctioning Cunha’s sale during Wolves’ fight against relegation. “I hope not, I hope not because we need him,” admitted the Portuguese boss at the end of December. – We need his quality.
Wolves will be without Cunha’s quality for the next two games. The Brazilian talisman has been banned by the FA following an altercation with a member of Ipswich Town’s security following a post-match brawl. Cunha will miss Monday night’s league game against Nottingham Forest and next weekend’s FA Cup third-round tie with Bristol City.
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