Wolverhampton Wanderers striker Matheus Cunha is on the verge of agreeing a new contract, reports say, in a blow to Arsenal, Manchester United and his many other suitors.
Cunha signed for Wolves on an initial loan when the club was rooted at the feet of Premier League table midway through the 2022/23 season, before joining on a permanent deal worth £44m after helping the club secure safety.
A respectable stack of 12 Premier League goals during his first full season in England – more than Manchester City's Julian Alvarez by comparison – attracted many admiring glances from across the division.
The Brazilian has somehow managed to improve this season despite the club's collective struggles, inspiringly strong interest from Arsenal and talk about an approach from Manchester United this January.
However, those clubs have had those ambitions dashed by multiple reports claiming Cunha has agreed a new long-term deal with Wolves. Telegraph write that the attacker is in “advanced talks” and an announcement should be made “within the next two weeks.”
Fabrizio Romano reports that the contract extension was verbally agreed to and would give Cunha a raise.
Despite the 25-year-old's best efforts – and an unbeaten start to life under incoming manager Vitor Pereira – Wolves remain in the last three. Cunha's new deal is said to include a relegation clause, allowing rival clubs to pay a pre-agreement and so far undisclosed fee for the striker in the event of a relegation.
Pereira made it clear that he had no intention of sanctioning the sale of Cunha during Wolves' fight against relegation. “I hope not, I hope not because we need him,” admitted the Portuguese coach at the end of December. We need his quality”.
Wolves will be without Cunha's quality for the next two games. The FA slapped the Brazilian talisman with a ban after an altercation with an Ipswich Town security member following a post-match brawl. Cunha will play in Monday night's league game against Nottingham Forest and the subsequent FA Cup third round tie with Bristol City next weekend.