Is Wolves star Cunha the unlikely answer to Man Utd’s striker problem?

Matheus Cunha has had a weird career.

After showing plenty of promise as a teenager in Switzerland, the Brazilian was snapped up by prolific talent producers RB Leipzig for a whopping €15 million in 2018. Despite the forward having failed to impress, the Red Bulls managed to turn a minor profit on him when they sold him to nouveau riche Hertha for €18m in 2020 after the Berlin club had become aflush with funds from controversial then-investor Lars Windhorst.

Cunha fared better in the capital, notching 13 goals in 40 appearances, which again earned him a big-money move. Atletico Madrid showed themselves willing to shell out €35m for him 2021, but it was again the same old story in Spain: Cunha was hit and miss to the point where Atletico tried to get rid of him.

Paradoxically, a club were yet again able to turn a profit on Cunha when Wolves made an initial loan permanent for an eye-watering €50m in the summer of 2023. Several months on, however, it actually – and unexpectedly – looks a solid piece of business.

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Cunha becoming Wolves’ star

Under Gary O’Neil, Cunha has been able to consistently show what he is made of. The erstwhile wonderkid is now a mature, 24-year-old forward who has notched a respectable 13 goals and seven assists in 31 games across all competitions this term. Cunha has become the star man of the West Midlands side, who are overperforming this season, by O’Neil’s own admission.

Cunha now has the appearance of a fairly complete centre-forward, who is able to combine with teammates or make runs in behind the defence. On Saturday, the Brazilian notched a brace against Nottingham Forest and showed off his skillset with the first goal. The forward led a one-man counter-attack, turning Andrew Omobamidele and Ryan Yates before blasting the ball past Matz Sels.

His performance again illustrated that the Brazilian is now a real asset, who can pose a consistent, credible threat to opposition sides, which is something that wasn’t always the case during his time in the Bundesliga. His technical ability was never in doubt, but his instinct in front of goal and overall contribution to his side’s play was nowhere as developed as it is now.

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Destined for a top club?

At 24 years of age, Cunha is still a fairly young player. Data analytics firm SciSports believe that he still has some room to develop, though they already rate him as a very solid Premier League striker. The Brazilian would be a key player for clubs like Chelsea and Man Utd.

This fact is, of course, intriguing because both are in the market for a new number nine this summer. While Chelsea are hell-bent on signing Victor Osimhen, it is not 100 per cent clear who the Red Devils’ top target is, though Ivan Toney looks to have a decent chance of donning United’s famous red shirt next season.

Erik ten Hag has once again publically admitted that he wants to add another striker despite the €74m acquisition of young Rasmus Hojlund last summer, stating that having a proven goalscorer ‘would help.’ Cunha isn’t necessarily a traditional striker in the mould of Osimhen or Toney, but he could nevertheless be an option for Man Utd.

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SciSports believe that he would be a good fit for the Red Devils. The Old Trafford side are Cunha’s third-best-suited club behind Real Madrid (not taking into account Kylian Mbappe’s impending move) and Wolves as per SciSports’ Career Advice tool. Wolves being in there, of course, also suggests that the grass isn’t always greener on the other side.

However, United’s Club Fit rating of 75 is decent if not spectacular. Wolves are in financial difficulties, so they may have to shed a painful amount of talent in the summer to comply with Financial Fair Play. Pedro Neto and, as revealed by FootballTransfers, Joao Gomes are two candidates to depart, but Wolves don’t want to lose either.

Someone will have to go, though, and Man Utd will have money to spend. With the likes of Osimhen and Viktor Gyokeres likely unattainable – especially without Champions League football – someone like Cunha could be a viable alternative and he may not cost €100m or more even if Wolves would surely try to turn a profit on their €50m outlay.