Matheus Cunha given permission by Wolves to undergo Manchester United medical

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Wolverhampton Wanderers have given forward Matheus Cunha to undergo a medical at Manchester United ahead of a proposed summer transfer.

Club-to-club talks between United and Wolves, where Cunha has a £62.5million ($83.7m) release clause, were opened on Tuesday.

United have now met the terms of Cunha’s contract at Molineux and will now seek to complete the transfer of the Brazilian.

There had been optimism that agreeing a payment structure will be a formality, with Cunha’s contract outlining that a transfer fee is paid across three instalments — a first lump sum upon the signing and a further two equal shares over the next two years — although United had sought to make the payment over five years rather than two.

There is hope a deal can be concluded for when the transfer window opens on June 1.

The Athletic reported on April 22 that United had held positive contract talks with Cunha, with head coach Ruben Amorim and the United hierarchy aligned on bringing in the Brazilian.

Cunha last signed a new contract at Wolves on deadline day in February, despite interest from Arsenal and Nottingham Forest, agreeing terms until 2029 with a £62.5million ($83.7m) release clause.

United have the Premier League and UEFA financial regulations to consider but are seeking to give themselves spending power by selling loanees Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, Antony and Tyrell Malacia.

Cunha has played the majority of this season as a No 10 in Wolves’ 3-4-2-1 system under Gary O’Neil and then Vitor Pereira. Despite missing six games cumulatively through suspension, Cunha has registered 17 goals and six assists in 34 matches across all competitions, the most productive scoring season of his career.

His 15 Premier League goals in 2024-25 far exceed anyone in the United squad, with Bruno Fernandes leading the club’s league scoring chart with eight. Strikers Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirzkee had four and three respectively.

United executives have also held face-to-face talks with Ipswich Town’s Liam Delap, scorer of 12 Premier League goals in his debut top-flight campaign.

Cunha joined Wolves from RB Leipzig on loan in January 2023 before completing a permanent move for £43m that summer. He previously played for Atletico Madrid, Hertha Berlin and FC Sion, and has been capped 13 times by Brazil.

‘The perfect combination for an elite forward’

Analysis by Mark Carey

Pushing his temperament to one side for a moment, there is little doubt that Cunha has been Wolves’ talisman this season. Having barely played as an out-and-out striker, a return of 13 Premier League goals shows how much he has shouldered the attacking responsibility to help his side stave off relegation.

Playing as a left-sided No 10, Cunha’s intelligence to drift into pockets of space will often mean that all attacking roads lead through the Brazil international. As well as his goal haul, no Wolves player has created more open-play chances or generated a higher expected assists tally. Ideally, you would clone Cunha and play them both — one to craft the chance and the other to finish.

With a deftness of touch that often belies his 6ft frame, the 25-year-old will often look to drive his team forward single-handedly with his close control. His 118 take-ons in the Premier League is higher than any other player in the Wolves squad — for context, no other team-mate has broken a century.

United have witnessed his cheeky, South American flair first-hand after Cunha’s Olimpico goal gave Wolves the lead in their Boxing Day clash this season. With Amorim’s side in desperate need of a player to stitch their attack together, Cunha could be the perfect player to link the midfield and forward line — particularly given that he is adept at playing in a 3-4-2-1 system.

Capable of playing anywhere across the front line, Cunha offers versatility, creativity, and goalscoring ability. The perfect combination for an elite forward.

Why is a new No 10 important for Amorim?

Analysis by Manchester United correspondent Laurie Whitwell

Cunha’s familiarity with that position behind the striker in a 3-4-2-1 formation enhances his appeal for United, who want adaptable players but also need new signings to hit the ground running. His record against United inevitably colours perceptions too. He terrorised Erik ten Hag’s side when running from midfield on the opening day of the 2023-24 season and, of course, scored direct from a corner past Andre Onana at Molineux this term.

Cunha’s ball-carrying is an important aspect to consider in an Amorim system. Usually, Amorim has a blend in his No 10s, one a creator, the other tasked with running beyond. Cunha could offer a bit of both, but his ability to go past opponents would add dynamism and, importantly, he can carry a scoring edge.

There may be questions about temperament given his bans for reactions against Ipswich and Bournemouth, and his work off the ball at Wolves left some staff wanting more. But he has 12 and 13 Premier League goals in consecutive seasons, after getting two in 17 games while on loan for half a campaign, which is proof of his pedigree. Hojlund got 10 Premier League goals last term, but only three this year, while Alejandro Garnacho, who plays as the ball-carrying No 10 under Amorim, has seven and four.

(Naomi Baker/Getty Images)

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