Wolverhampton Wanderers striker Matheus Cunha is reportedly close to agreeing a new contract, a blow to Arsenal, Manchester United and his many other suitors.
Cunha initially signed for Wolves on loan as the club found themselves stuck at the bottom of the Premier League table midway through the 2022/23 season, before joining on a permanent deal worth £44 million after helping the club to ensure safety.
A respectable haul of 12 Premier League goals in his first full season in England – more than Manchester City’s Julian Alvarez by comparison – attracted many admiring glances from across the division.
The Brazilian has somehow managed to improve despite the club’s collective struggles this season, sparking huge interest from Arsenal and sparking rumors of an approach from Manchester United in January this year.
However, these clubs’ ambitions have been dashed by multiple reports claiming that Cunha has all but agreed to a new, long-term contract at Wolves. The Telegraph Write that the striker is in “advanced discussions” and an announcement should be made “within the next two weeks.”
Fabrizio Romano reports that the contract extension was agreed verbally and would give Cunha a salary increase.
Despite the 25-year-old’s best efforts – and an unbeaten start to life under new coach Vitor Pereira – Wolves remain in the bottom three. Cunha’s new contract will reportedly contain a relegation clause, allowing rival clubs to pay a pre-agreed and as-yet-undisclosed fee for the striker in the event of relegation.
Pereira made it clear he had no intention of approving Cunha’s sale during Wolves’ battle against relegation. “I hope not, I hope not because we need him,” the Portuguese coach admitted at the end of December. “We need his quality.”
Wolves will have to do without Cunha’s quality in the next two games. The FA handed out a ban to the Brazilian talisman after a post-match brawl with a member of Ipswich Town security. Cunha will sit out Monday night’s league game against Nottingham Forest and the subsequent FA Cup third round game against Bristol City next weekend.