Say what you will about the damage of a calamitous domestic campaign, the allure of representing Manchester United remains an undeniable draw with Matheus Cunha on the cusp of becoming a welcome summer coup.
As the Theatre of Red revealed in early April, Old Trafford officials identified the Wolves star as a primary target and set about engaging with his representatives to negotiate a suitable financial package.
Following weeks of speculation regarding the forward and his plans for the next stage of his journey, United are edging ever closer to sealing his signature.
Transfer mogul Fabrizio Romano has supplied an update on 19 May, stating that “The Brazilian has accepted the project, as agreement on personal terms is now being finalised.”
Sources close to the Theatre of Red have confirmed that preliminary negotiations are expected to occur imminently, with the player’s agent likely to travel to the North West late in the week.
Although no deal is currently in place, and the 20-time English champions have yet to approach their Premier League rivals, Ben Jacobs has confirmed that “all parties want a speedy resolution”.
Without question, it is now a case of when, not if, Cunha will become a Manchester United player.
How will Matheus Cunha benefit Ruben Amorim at Manchester United
A week shy of his 26th birthday, Cunha possesses an expansive skillset which has propelled him into the conversation amongst the elite attacking talents in the Premier League.
Ruben Amorim and his Portuguese department are avid admirers of his final-third versatility and craft to play a starring role across the frontline.
Within this Vítor Pereira Wolves system, Cunha has been largely deployed behind the starting striker, initially occupying a left-sided 10 from the opening whistle. However, while he has contributed six assists throughout the campaign, the Brazilian leads the club’s scoring charts with 17 goals.
| Matheus Cunha vs attacking mid | Per 90 minutes (Last 365 days) | Percentile |
| Assists | 0.21 | 61 |
| Passes Attempted | 38.14 | 56 |
| Pass completion % | 71.7% | 20 |
| Progressive carries | 3.76 | 59 |
| Progressive passes received | 5.38 | 17 |
| Shots total | 3.52 | 92 |
| Non-penalty goals | 0.53 | 96 |
It is important to note that, whether displayed as a 10 on a pre-match analysis screen or spoken about to accommodate tactical debate, the Stretford End will not acquire another creative outlet like Bruno Fernandes. His output and statistics reveal an attack-minded forward who thrives on finding the back of the net first.
Furthermore, maintaining Amorim’s desire to develop a squad of athletic options, he is a modern-day forward who happily drops deep to share the burden of defensive duties.
With the Reds also pursuing a deal to lure Liam Delap to the North West, the Brazilian would prove influential in providing an experienced hand in nurturing the young talent and aiding with his transition to the bright lights of the Theatre of Dreams.
You need only look as far as Rasmus Hojlund for evidence of the potential damage caused by putting a young attacker in the impossible situation the Dane has found himself.
Although we have only witnessed a glimpse of the famed Sporting structure, key to the offensive shape is the requirement for regular alterations depending on the build-up phase.
Cunha is blessed with a plethora of the required technical traits to bolster this continental strategy in the heart of the North West. Furthermore, with a lack of goals providing an arduous talking point, the Joao Pessoa native would prove instrumental in redefining this team.
At a time when a campaign-defining Europa League meeting with Spurs has stolen the gaze, luring a player of this calibre without the guarantee of continental football next season is further evidence of the intriguing project playing out at Old Trafford.
How do you feel about Cunha arriving at Manchester United this summer? Let us know your thoughts in the comments or across our social channels.
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