Mikel Arteta Arsenal
Arsenal have reportedly held talks over a deal to sign Wolverhampton Wanderers striker Matheus Cunha, as per Caught Offside.
The 25-year-old joined the Molineux club on an initial loan deal from Atletico Madrid in January last year before they decided to make the move permanent the following summer.
Now, he has established himself as the talismanic figure for Wolves in recent times. In 29 starts in the Premier League, the forward made 19 goal contributions last campaign.
The West Midlands club have had a tough start this season, languishing in the relegation zone. But, the South American has been in impressive form, scoring seven goals and registering three assists in 12 league starts.
Cunha’s promising performances in the English top-flight haven’t gone unnoticed as he has started attracting a lot of attention from several big clubs around Europe ahead of the January window.
Cunha to Arsenal
Caught Offside claim that Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United and Aston Villa have expressed their interest in signing him, additionally, AC Milan and Napoli are also keen on securing his service.
But, the Gunners have placed themselves in the driving seat in this race after opening talks to purchase him next year. However, Wolves don’t want to let their star man leave just yet and are planning to offer a new contract to him.
The forward – valued at around £37m by Transfermarkt – has a contract until 2027 with Gary O’Neil’s side so they are likely to demand a large sum if they are forced to sell their star man next year.
Cunha is a versatile player as he can play anywhere across the frontline. He has been showcasing his best as a second striker at Molineux Stadium.
The Brazilian is quick, strong, technically sound, can dribble past opposition defenders in tight areas, is efficient in finishing off his chances and also works hard without possession.
Arteta likes to have versatile players at his disposal so Cunha would be a perfect fit for his system. However, it is going to be interesting to see whether the North London club eventually formalise their interest in signing the former Atletico Madrid star in January or next summer.