Matheus Cunha looks to have slipped away from Nottingham Forest after serious interest in January, with Wolves looking at another Forest target to replace him.
Cunha was Forest’s dream summer target after a well-documented chase in the winter transfer window. A striker was a top priority then, too, with Forest willing to break their transfer record for Cunha at the time.
However, hopes of signing the Brazilian seemed to end as Cunha preferred a move to a ‘big six’ club, with Manchester United moving in to seemingly seal the signing.
Wolves are now under pressure to replace their talisman, and look to be turning to one of Nuno Espírito Santo’s targets to flex their Cunha money on.
Photo by Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images
Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images
Wolves look at Nottingham Forest target James McAtee
Alongside the Cunha saga, the Reds have also been fending off interest for one of their top stars as Manchester City attempt to sign Morgan Gibbs-White.
Fighting off interest from City will be difficult, so due diligence on replacements has already begun, with City’s own James McAtee emerging as a target for Forest.
Forest aren’t alone in the race, though, as Birmingham World are reporting that McAtee is also seen as an option to replace Cunha at Wolves.
The report said: “Wolverhampton Wanderers are interested in signing Manchester City attacking midfielder James McAtee this summer but face widespread competition.
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“Birmingham World has been informed by a source close to the club that Wolves have added McAtee to their shortlist of summer targets.
“The Old Gold are expected to lose Matheus Cunha to Manchester United for £62.5 million and Pablo Sarabia looks likely to leave at the end of his contract, so a new attacking midfielder is required.
“The Wanderers hierarchy believe McAtee is already good enough to start for the club and feel the midfielder has huge potential to tap into.”
Other Premier League clubs will be hard enough for Forest to contend with, but the report also suggested that clubs from across Europe have taken an interest in McAtee.
Forest target James McAtee is wanted by European giants
Leeds want McAtee as well as they get ready for life back in the Premier League, but there’s a distinct possibility that the 22-year-old leaves the league entirely.
The report continued: “It won’t be easy for Wolves to sign McAtee, however, as they face stiff competition from a host of fellow Premier League clubs, as well as teams from abroad. Newcastle United, Nottingham Forest, West Ham United, Crystal Palace and Leeds United have all been linked in recent months.
“Bayer Leverkusen, Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig, Fiorentina and Bologna have all been credited with interest.”
Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Dortmund look to be the biggest obstacles in Forest’s way as both sides have qualified for the Champions League, while Bologna have also secured European football by winning the Italian Cup.
McAtee was left out of City’s FA Cup final squad so his exit from the Etihad Stadium seems inevitable, but there is a well-trodden path for young English talents to find success abroad, which could see Forest miss out on the playmaker.