Man United once again struggled to replicate their European form in the Premier League against Brentford
slumping to their sixth league defeat in a row
The result and performance was further evidence that United need a serious clearout of their squad this summer in order to sufficiently back Ruben Amorim
Although United earned a brilliant result against Athletic Bilbao last week
the Premier League table is always a better representative of where your project is at — and it’s not good reading for Sir Jim Ratcliffe
And whilst United are pushing to sign Cunha from Wolverhampton Wanderers
he might not be the only high-profile attacking addition the Red Devils target
According to The Telegraph, United are now interested in Bryan Mbeumo at Brentford
who had a strong hand in Amorim’s side losing 4-3 on Sunday
Mbeumo has a price tag of around £60m according to the report and United’s interest is separate to Cunha — they’d be willing to buy both
READ MORE: Rio Ferdinand says Man Utd signed a striker for just £1m who was better than Wayne Rooney
Of course, Brentford manager Thomas Frank admitted Mbeumo could leave this summer if the right bid came in
a club who will sell their key players when they feel the time is right
Speaking a few months ago, Thierry Henry was convinced Mbeumo would leave Brentford this summer and all indicators are now pointing towards that exit
neither Cunha or Mbeumo are seen as natural number nines and perhaps both would be envisioned to play off a central striker
Hojlund might leave United this summer himself — it’s guaranteed to be a busy one at Old Trafford
Interestingly United are still interested in Victor Osimhen at Napoli
a striker the Italian side are keen to sell this summer
Osimhen is currently on loan at Galatasaray but his contract with Napoli is beginning to wind down
And if Osimhen isn’t seen as the ideal candidate at Old Trafford then Jean-Philippe Mateta is keen to join United himself if he doesn’t sign new terms with Crystal Palace
It promises to be a summer of change for Amorim’s side
And if United are able to secure Champions League football for next season then their whole rebuild will be so much easier
revenue that will seriously help any PSR concerns moving forward
Manchester United are all set to compete with Liverpool and Newcastle United to sign Brentford star Bryan Mbeumo
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Manchester United have reportedly joined the race for another Premier League attacker who they admire
Confirmed to finish with their worst ever Premier League points tally under Ruben Amorim, United are poised to be busy in the summer transfer market as they look to strengthen a struggling squad
Given their lack of goal threat, United have been linked with a number of attacking players - with Ipswich Town's Liam Delap and Wolves' Matheus Cunha widely believed to be at the top of their list
The names of European goal-getters Victor Osimhen and Viktor Gyokeres have also been mentioned but a fresh name has been added to the list
According to The Telegraph
United are keen on Brentford forward Bryan Mbeumo
who has been in excellent form for the Bees alongside strike partner Yoann Wissa this season
The Cameroonian has scored 18 times in the Premier League this term and has attracted interest from both Newcastle and Premier League champions Liverpool
But United's top brass are also fans of the 25-year-old and are said to be ready to join the race for him
The former Troyes man is expected to have plenty of clubs circling around him and is rated at around £60 million
Brentford signed Mbeumo in 2019 for just £5.8 million in what was a club-record fee at the time and the west London outfit will be in line to make a substantial profit on him if they do decide to cash in
manager Thomas Frank told Sky Sports that he was "sure" Brentford would be "open" to selling Mbeumo if "the price is right" but said it wouldn't be on the cheap
The French-born player operates from the right flank and comes in on his left foot and could be a perfect fit for Amorim's preferred 3-4-3 formation
the potential addition would not have any impact on a pursuit of Cunha
who has a £65 million release clause in his Wolves deal
is seen as independent for the Europa League semi-finalists
that he wants to continue with us," the Arsenal boss revealed
"What will happen in the future with our negotiations have to take time..
but I’m quite confident that William is very happy here and that’s the place that he wants to be."
"They have looked weak there at times and I think Palhinha would improve them
Things haven’t gone to plan for him at Bayern Munich because Vincent Kompany decided that Joshua Kimmich needed to be back in the middle
the one deficiency in his game is probably his work on the ball and that’s so important at Bayern when they are dominating games
"He is probably a player to use in the biggest games against the best teams so he can frustrate the opposition
we could well see him if Bayern go on and get PSG in the Champions League final
He has rarely started and also had an injury
I think he will part ways with the club in the summer and it’s a question of how much money Bayern can get back."
May has only just begun but with three games left in the Premier League attention is shifting to everyone's summer business. Trent Alexander-Arnold is one man who will be on the move after confirming his Liverpool exit
The right-back came through the ranks at Anfield but his contract is due to expire and a move to Real Madrid is now expected after he penned an emotional statement signalling his departure
United might be bolstered by a finances from possible sales during the summer
The Reds were particularly quiet last summer
not that it hampered the newly crowned champions
but Arne Slot is tipped to far more proactive this summer
Arsenal meanwhile will be under pressure to eventually sign a striker with Benjamin Sesko appearing to be near the top of their shortlist
stay tuned for all of the latest transfer news and rumours..
Much has been made about how Arne Slot has used so few players en route to his Liverpool success this term
Some claim he doesn't fully trust his squad players
which is why he's had to stick by such a small pool of players
Well changes were made at Chelsea - the likes of Kostas Tsimikas
Wataru Endo and Harvey Elliott were all starting at Stamford Bridge
Potentially it had more to do with the Reds now being confirmed as champions
the question will have over whether Liverpool need more quality across the whole of their squad
Some potential movement in the dugout but West Brom want Tottenham coach Ryan Mason to become their new manager
The Baggies remain in the Championship and missed out on the play-offs with attention turning to next season's promotion push
Tony Mowbray was sacked by the club last month after getting only five wins in 18 league games
Mason has led Tottenham on a temporary basis before and is the main target for bosses at the Hawthorns
Arne Slot admits that despite being happy with his current squad, Liverpool can't stand still in the summer transfer window. Slot told Sky Sports: "We will see what the summer will bring
but I've said many times we're happy with the squad we have
"It's also true that this is the second year in a row these players are together and sometimes it can be good to bring in some fresh energy
we decided to keep them all so we will see what we will do
but it's already been a big summer."
Trent Alexander-Arnold will reportedly sign a six-year contract with Real Madrid in the coming weeks after confirming he has decided to leave Liverpool in order to pursue a new challenge
with the Spanish champions waiting in the wings
Los Blancos' interest in the England star
has been well documented and they even had a cut-price offer for Alexander-Arnold rejected in January
But they are now set to land their top summer transfer target for free now that Alexander-Arnold has decided once and for all that his time at Anfield is up
Liverpool need to sign at least three players in the summer transfer window if they are to stand any chance of defending their Premier League title
who has urged Arne Slot to be ruthless if the Reds are to go back to back
Keane watched their defeat at Stamford Bridge and feels that
Liverpool lack strength in depth in key positions
“They want to back that up,” he said on Sky Sports when asked about summer signings
“That's the big challenge for Liverpool
they'll be a big attraction for a lot of players
you've got to back it up again next year.”
Trent Alexander-Arnold’s appetite to test himself outside of the Premier League has driven his decision to quit Liverpool
The England right-back has officially confirmed that he will be leaving Anfield at the end of his contract
It comes after Alexander-Arnold’s contract has been allowed to wind down - and he is widely expected to join Spanish giants Real Madrid on a free transfer
And it is that chance that has ultimately led to him deciding to bring his glittering Liverpool career to an end
Read more HERE.
Trent Alexander-Arnold has left some Liverpool fans furious by confirming he will leave the club this summer
Alexander-Arnold has long been linked with a free transfer to Real Madrid and confirmation of the news Reds fans had been dreading came on Monday morning
His farewell message has not gone down well with Liverpool fans
many of whom feel he has betrayed his boyhood club by leaving on a free transfer
Some claiming he's been flirting with a Real move for years and wouldn't be welcomed back
Read more about the fallout HERE.
After 20 years at Liverpool Football Club, now is the time for me to confirm that I will be leaving at the end of the season.This is easily the hardest decision I’ve ever made in my life.I know many of you have wondered why or been frustrated that I haven’t spoken about this… pic.twitter.com/emAw5RvXq0
Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold has confirmed he is leaving Liverpool this summer
The Reds right-back will join Real Madrid on a free transfer ending his 20-year stay at the club
will leave having won two Premier League titles
The club vice-captain has held talks with the Merseysiders to try to agree a new contract but he has decided to take on a new challenge
Mason Greenwood is thought to be keen on a Premier League return this summer
And that could see Manchester United profit from any potential move
The Sun have reported that 'the novelty' of playing abroad has worn off for Greenwood
who spent time on loan with Getafe last season before joining Marseille permanently in the summer
And a 'string of clubs' are said to be interested in bringing him back to England
Ruben Amorim claimed that Man Utd are not in a position to be competitive in the Champions League - which is a stark reminder of where they're at
They could end up at Europe's top table with victory in the Europa League
but their manager doesn't seem to think they'll be competitive
That is hardly a ringing endorsement for potential signings
but Amorim has always been completely honest
He told Sky Sports: "We are not ready to play in the Premier League
and we need to fight to win this competition
"Then we will have time to prepare the team to cope with those two competitions
Arsenal's new sporting director Andrea Berta - will target at least THREE major signings
They believe it is a done deal for Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi as the £51m midfielder is set to arrive at the Emirates
Arsenal have made a new No9 their top priority with Sporting Lisbon star Viktor Gyökeres and RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko more realistic targets than Newcastle ’s Alexander Isak
Arsenal also want a left winger and Athletic Bilbao’s Nico Williams is their dream ticket but the squad also needs a shake-up with likely departures of Oleksandr Zinchenko while Jorginho and Kieran Tierney are set to go while they want Espanyol’s Joan Garcia a new No2 keeper
Arsenal and Aston Villa are eyeing Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic with the Italian club expected to demand around £42m for the Serbian
The Gunners were particularly keen on Vlahovic when he was being prolific at Fiorentina
but lost out several years ago when the Serie A giants came knocking and won the race for his signature
Villa's business may well be determined on whether or not they sneak into the Champions League places in the final weeks of the season
Ex-Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale is expected to leave Southampton after just one season following the club's relegation to the Championship
only joined the Saints as part of an £18million transfer deal
But his time at St Mary's could be up after less than a year amid links with Manchester United and West Ham
That's because Southampton are eyeing a move for Sunderland's Anthony Patterson as a replacement for Ramsdale
who's keen to stay in the Premier League
Their late surge in west London meant they only lost 4-3
It would be the greatest transfer window in Man Utd's modern history if they were able to turn their current squad into one capable of mounting a top four charge
The gap between them and even the likes of Newcastle remains huge
It remains to be seen just how much of a game changer Amorim's system is once he's had a whole pre-season to work on it with his players but for now they seem to be miles away and it would take three or four major signings to turn things around
Real Betis may have made no secret of their desire to sign Antony on a permanent basis but the Brazilian is also said to be attracting interest from Atletico Madrid
Betis are unlikely to be able to afford to finance a permanent deal for the former Ajax man
and not only are Atletico keeping a close eye on the situation
they have already enquired about a potential summer deal according to reports in Spain
Real Sociedad president Jokin Aperribay has suggested that Martin Zubimendi hasn't made a final decision on his future
Spainish midfielder Zubimendi was close to joining Liverpool for £50million last summer but the 26-year-old now looks set to join Arsenal
"We'll see what happens," Aperribay said
All I ask of him is one last effort to qualify for Europe and whatever happens will happen in June
There's no point in speculating now about whether he'll be there
He's had several opportunities to leave and he'll make the decision he wants
because he'll have more options."
Benjamin Sesko is drawing plenty of interest ahead of a possible summer move
The north London side hope to sign a forward and the RB Leipzig striker has been a long-term target
The Gunners are said to face competition from Liverpool and Chelsea
with Newcastle and Man Utd also maintaining contact with star's representatives
Sesko is reported to be relaxed about his future but could lean towards a move to Arsenal
Scouts were present to watch Sesko score against Bayern Munich at the weekend
Man Utd want to pair Matheus Cunha up with Bryan Mbuemo as part of a new look attacking unit
The Red Devils have been in talks over a deal to sign Cunha for weeks and Mbuemo has now emerged as a target following another remarkable season in Brentford colours
The Telegraph claim that United want to sign Mbuemo this summer
though it's unlikely they will be alone in their pursuit of the Cameroon star
Mbuemo is said to be valued in excess of £60million
while Cunha has a £62.5m release clause written into his contract
We're back to bring you all the latest - stay tuned
Thanks for joining us on Sunday's live transfer blog
We'll be back tomorrow with more updates
Liverpool manager Arne Slot insists that he's happy with his current squad - but will look to make improvements
Slot told Sky Sports after the Reds' 3-1 defeat to Chelsea: "We will see what the summer will bring
"Only if we see a chance in the market or we see someone we think can improve us
It's not so easy to improve this team because they've already won the Premier League."
Bayern Munich director of sport Max Eberl has confirmed that contract negotiations with Leroy Sane are underway
has been linked with a move to Saudi Arabia
"We are in talks, we are in good talks, we are in productive talks, but the signature is still missing," Eberl told Sky Germany
Now we just have to get our act together."
Mikel Arteta says that he's 'certain' William Saliba will remain at Arsenal
But Arteta expects the French defender to stay put
Chelsea have just got a huge 3-1 win against Liverpool
It's a gutting result for the likes of Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest
Chelsea are now level on points with Newcastle and one behind Manchester City
Not only does being in the Champions League boost the coughers
Kevin De Bruyne is unsure whether or not he'll represent Manchester City and this summer's Club World Cup
The Belgian midfielder is due to leave City when his contract expires on June 30
although the club could hand him a short-team deal so that he can feature in the latter stages of the competition should they progress
it will depend on whatever happens in the future
what competition I'll play," De Bruyne said
"Also if another team doesn't want me to play
doesn't want to risk whatever happens
I haven't really spoken to City about it
Juventus have opened in talks with Manchester United after deciding to pursue a move for Rasmus Hojlund
Calciomercato report that Juve are keen to sign Hojlund
Both Dusan Vlahovic and Randal Kolo Muani are set to be made available this summer
Liverpool and Chelsea are said to be still watching Benjamin Sesko ahead of a possible summer move
while Manchester United are still in touch with his representatives over a deal
Reports suggest the RB Leipzig forward is relaxed over his future however
It has been touted he could lean towards the Gunners who were interested last summer too
Florian Wirtz has not given the thumbs up over a transfer to Bayern Munich from Bayer Leverkusen. The Bundesliga giants believe they are on a "very good path" to land the Germany international who has also drawn interest from Man City, according to Sky Sports Germany
Wirtz has also been linked with Liverpool in the past
But perhaps Xabi Alonso's potential move to the Bernabeu dugout could provide a twist in his future
Liverpool could make a £52million bid for Jarrod Bowen this summer, according to Caught Offside.
The Reds and Tottenham are said to be keen on the West Ham star, and could test the Irons' resolve.
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And INEOS have started their work pretty early going by reports that the Red Devils are on course to complete the signing of Matheus Cunha from Wolverhampton Wanderers
Personal terms have been verbally agreed while Wolves are reportedly open to receiving the Brazilian’s release clause in instalments.
The former Atletico Madrid star has 17 goals and six assists this season and he has already impressed Ruben Amorim with his creativity and eye for a pass
out wide and even as an attacking midfielder
Plenty of suitors were after the Brazil international including Newcastle but United’s offer was supposed to signal the end of their pursuit
But not as per The Daily Mail, where journalist Craig Hopes writes that should Amorim’s side fail to clinch the Europa League
the Magpies could pounce and win the race by offering Champions League football to the 25-year-old
I think this is slightly different in that the versatility Newcastle identified in the Wolves forward would have made it feel like two signings for the price of one (even if that was £62.5m)
it looks like Manchester United have offered a salary package way beyond where Newcastle can currently go
if Man United fail to make the Champions League and Newcastle do
there may still be a twist or two in that one.”
Cunha is open to a move to Old Trafford even without the prospect of Champions League football on offer so it seems Hope’s argument holds no water
United seem favourites to make the Europa League final
even that doubt can be erased from the equation
Even Arsenal were planning a hijack but even they have since admitted defeat
It seems only a matter of time before the 20-time English league champions get their man
playWould Matheus Cunha be a smart signing for Man United
(2:18)The ESPN FC crew discuss whether or not Matheus Cunha would be a positive signing for Manchester United
Transfers homepage | Done deals | Men's January grades | Women's January grades
and has also provided six assists throughout the campaign
is also being considered as a potential alternative
play1:32Ogden: Amorim is under massive pressureMark Ogden believes Ruben Amorim could soon face serious pressure if results fail to improve
- Franco Mastantuono, 17, is only focused on River Plate, after becoming the youngest player to score for the club against Boca Juniors on Sunday, amid reported interest from Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United and Real Madrid. (ESPN Argentina)
- Jonny Evans, Michael Keane and Callum Wilson are all players who fit the profile that Wrexham are looking for as summer recruits due to their top-level experience and contracts which expire at the end of the season. (The Times)
- Juventus are eying on-loan Lazio left-back Nuno Tavares, with the 25-year-old expected to join the Biancocelesti on a permanent deal from Arsenal in the summer after Marco Baroni's side activate a €4m clause. (Tuttosport)
- Lazio could part ways with centre-back Alessio Romagnoli in the summer as the Serie A club look to rebuild their defence, and the 30-year-old could be moved on amid concerns over his €3m-per-season contract. (Corriere dello Sport)
- The Brazilian Football Federation is "very confident" it can secure a deal to hire Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti as the new head coach of the Seleção. (Fabrizio Romano)
- Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta could be an alternative target for Manchester United if their effort to sign Ipswich Town's Liam Delap is unsuccessful. (GIVEMESPORT)
- Manchester City are tracking Juventus wing-back Andrea Cambiaso. (The Sun)
- Defender Wesley Fofana could leave Chelsea next summer with Marseille "closely monitoring" the defender's situation. (Footmercato)
- Liverpool have been closely watching Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo ahead of a potential transfer swoop. (Telegraph)
- There is a concrete chance that goalkeeper Ederson leaves Manchester City this summer amid continued interest from the Saudi Pro League. (Fabrizio Romano)
- Reports linking Chelsea with a move for Borussia Dortmund stopper Gregor Kobel are wide of the mark. (Ben Jacobs)
- Liverpool attacker Diogo Jota is wanted by several clubs in Saudi Arabia, who could bid for the Portuguese international at the end of the season. (Telegraph)
- Everton have opened talks with midfielder Idrissa Gueye over a new contract, whose current deal is set to expire in June. (Football Insider)
- Despite interest from England, midfielder João Palhinha currently has "no intention" of leaving Bayern Munich. (Sky Germany)
- Juventus plan to negotiate a new loan deal for striker Randal Kolo Muani, which could include a future option to sign him permanently from Paris Saint-Germain. (Ekrem Konur)
- Jamie Vardy believes he has plenty to offer a Premier League side after announcing his decision to leave Leicester City at the end of the season. (Sky Sports)
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Man Utd have been linked with a move for Brentford winger Bryan Mbeumo along with Wolves forward Matheus Cunha ahead of the summer transfer window
The Red Devils have had a miserable season in the Premier League with Ruben Amorim’s side currently 15th heading into the final three matches of the campaign
Amorim’s men are already guaranteed to finish the season as the worst Man Utd team to have played in the Premier League
even if they win their remaining three fixtures
One of their main issues this season has been scoring goals with just five Premier League sides scoring fewer than them this term
Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee have come in for lots of criticism this season with the duo only scoring seven Premier League goals between them this term
Amorim has struggled to get the best out of his group with the Man Utd squad struggling to adapt to his style of play
And now Man Utd want to support him in the transfer window with a number of signings and one of the main areas they want to improve is in attack
On Sunday, the Daily Telegraph reported that Brentford winger Mbeumo is now a ‘target’ for Man Utd ‘as well as’ Wolves Cunha as they look to overhaul their front line
The Brentford man is ‘high on list of potential targets as Amorim looks to bolster squad’ and Man Utd are ‘ready to join the race’ for Mbeumo ‘when competition for the £60 million-rated Brentford forward intensifies during the summer transfer window’
is a target for United in the summer but has been most effective through the middle as a No 9
‘Interest in Mbeumo is independent of the Cunha deal
with the former Troyes forward regarded as one of the best wide forwards in the Premier League.’
But transfer expert Fabrizio Romano is less sure of how serious the Red Devils’ interest in Mbeumo is with “many clubs” looking to tie up a deal to sign the Brentford forward in the summer transfer window
Romano wrote in his GiveMeSport newsletter: “As far as I know
For Mbeumo there will be many clubs involved
Brentford boss Thomas Frank recently admitted that Brentford are a “selling club” but that he wants to keep Mbeumo and his other top stars “forever”
Frank said: “I’m the head coach
I know that Bryan is very happy being here at Brentford
I’ve said many times: we are a selling club
“But at the same time we have to reinforce that there are 10 clubs in the world who aren’t selling clubs
if the right price – and that’s going to be expensive – is coming
then I’m sure the club will be open for it
and I’m convinced that Bryan will still be happy playing football here.”
© Planet Sport Limited 2025 • All Rights Reserved
Manchester United have held positive contract talks to sign Wolverhampton Wanderers forward Matheus Cunha
Ruben Amorim and United executives are aligned on trying to bring Cunha to Old Trafford and they are taking the first steps in attempting to agree personal terms
The £62.5million ($83.7m) release clause in Cunha’s contract makes the parameters of a transfer clear and while Wolves want payment in full
United have financial regulations to consider but hope to free space by selling Marcus Rashford
Cunha, through a trademark dribble, earned the free-kick that Pablo Sarabia converted to win Wolves the game at United on Sunday and afterwards
Amorim was seen greeting the Brazilian in the tunnel
The Athletic reported earlier this month that Cunha
had emerged as plausible summer targets for United as they prioritise strengthening their attack
is regarded by United as a player at his peak who could make an instant impact in a forward line that has struggled for goals this season. He plays the No 10 role for Wolves in the same 3-4-2-1 as Amorim uses
and would be seen as a good fit behind a striker for United
Only five clubs have scored fewer times than the 38 that Ruben Amorim’s side have managed in the Premier League
with Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee scoring only six between them
Midfielder Bruno Fernandes is the club’s top scorer in the competition with eight
Cunha has scored 14 goals in the league and added a further two in the FA Cup
despite missing six games in those competitions due to suspensions
He has made 87 appearances for Wolves since joining
He previously enjoyed spells at RB Leipzig and Hertha Berlin in Germany having come through the ranks at Coritiba in Brazil
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
Cunha’s intelligence to drift into pockets of space will often mean that all attacking roads lead through the Brazil international
no Wolves player has created more open-play chances or generated a higher expected assists tally
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
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
The perfect combination for an elite forward
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
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
but his ability to go past opponents would add dynamism and
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
Hojlund got 10 Premier League goals last term
who plays as the ball-carrying No 10 under Amorim
The big question marks will be about Cunha’s character after he was suspended for six games this season after two huge losses of emotional control
He cannot deny that the red mist can descend
when he elbowed and ripped glasses from the face of an Ipswich staff member in the wake of what turned out to be Gary O’Neil’s final game in charge
given that Cunha had no form for indiscretions beyond the occasional instance of diving
when he swung an arm and a foot and then tried to headbutt Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez
was anything but unexpected as his body language had become increasingly negative in the intervening period
But it is a phenomenon that has only emerged this season at Wolves
personable member of the dressing room and was a popular figure among coaching staff and fellow players
If he can channel that side of his personality
See what the top sports stories are for UA and Tucson
What was expected to be any other school day for Amanda Cunha turned into a life-changing moment
Then a 17-year-old junior at Le Jardin Academy in Honolulu
Cunha “was driving my dad’s old car that I was driving for about a year” to school and noticed a change in her central vision in her left eye
she struggled to see the center of the road
“It was really crazy because I didn’t think it was anything serious,” Cunha said
“I thought it was from eye drops that I had taken for allergies
‘What is happening?’ It was scary and an interesting moment in my life
my family and doctors had no idea what it was for months.”
In the fall semester of her senior year at Le Jardin Academy
she was diagnosed with Leber’s Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (LHON)
a genetically inherited disease that causes vision loss
The rare genetic disorder, inherited only from the mother, mostly occurs with younger adults and has affected one in 50,000 people worldwide
The condition worsened over months until she was officially diagnosed in November 2021
“That pretty much changed the entire course of my life,” Cunha said
who’s now the team captain for the University of Arizona adaptive golf team
“was playing adaptive golf before I was actually playing adaptive golf.”
Cunha described her vision as a “kaleidoscope in the center of my vision.”
Amanda Cunha was one of the top junior golfers in Hawaii and fell in love with the sport when she was 5 years old
Before Cunha fell in love with golf at 5 years old
she was born in Kazakhstan and adopted by her parents
The couple also adopted Cunha’s younger brother
It is believed Cunha’s biological mother was a college student in Kazakhstan
“I don’t know much about my bio family,” Cunha said
a lot of adopted kids don’t know a lot about their medical history
My genetic condition was unknown to my entire family.”
Cunha joined the junior program at Casey Nakama Golf Development Center in Waimanalo
the hometown of former Arizona football star and newest Carolina Panther Tetairoa McMillan
The Casey Nakama Golf Development Center also produced LPGA star Michelle Wie West
“It all helped me become the golfer I am today,” Cunha said
but it was such a cool moment as a little girl.”
Cunha reconnected with her golf idol following a practice round at the U.S
Women’s Open at Pebble Beach in 2023 and said
Cunha grew up going to the beach and even did karate
Her love for golf brought her back to the game despite losing her vision
Cunha didn’t let a life-altering setback hinder her golf game
Larry Cunha took her to driving ranges in Hawaii to practice
line her up with the ball and describe where she was aiming
Driving range sessions eventually turned into rounds
“I would have my moments where I tripped on a cart path and curbs and my dad would be like
“But I was able to get really comfortable being on the golf course again.”
Arizona adaptive golfer Amanda Cunha lost central vision in May 2021 and was diagnosed with Leber's Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (LHON)
(Photo courtesy of Arizona Adaptive Athletics.)
The biggest hurdle “was trust issues with my dad
“He’s the person lining me up and telling me where to hit my ball,” she said
“That was the biggest issue in our relationship and it affected it off the course
But I learned to trust him in where I’m hitting my ball.”
When her senior year at Le Jardin Academy was coming to a close and Cunha was looking at college options
“the main thing I was looking for was academic accommodations I would receive as a student
but when I saw the (UA Disability Resource Center) offered adaptive athletics
she contacted Arizona adaptive athletics director Peter Hughes about joining the team
Cunha received $10,000 from the UA and an additional $10,000 from another scholarship fund for blind students
Cunha teamed up with Project Par’s Justin Kent
a golf swing instructor at Randolph Dell Urich Golf Course in Tucson
“Developing my game at the University of Arizona has been so helpful,” Cunha said
“I’ve been able to reach some of the best scores I’ve ever hit in my life.”
During her time at Arizona, she befriended Tucson native and fellow adaptive golfer Bailey Bish, who won the third-ever U.S. Adaptive Open at Sand Creek Station in Newton, Kansas
Cunha’s career-best round was a 71 at Sand Creek Station Golf Course
“That was probably one of the greatest highlights of my career,” Cunha said
University of Arizona adaptive golf captain Amanda Cunha
uses big text on her phone to be able to read messages
Two years before Bish’s breakthrough moment
Cunha was one of 96 golfers to compete in the U.S
Adaptive Open at Pinehurst Resort and Country Club
the same course she competed at for the North & South Junior Championship as one of the top high school golfers in Hawaii
Cunha returned to Pinehurst two years after she was diagnosed with Leber’s Hereditary Optic Neuropathy and was a medalist for the women’s vision impairment category
“People love her and they think she’s great,” Arizona adaptive golf head coach Dennis Schmelzel said of Cunha
“We get to know the members of these clubs and she’s fantastic with these people
She does a great job as an ambassador for the program.”
Schmelzel rode in the cart with Cunha and caddied for the UA adaptive golfer for 18 holes
“That was a cool experience,” Sarah Schmelzel
“I’ve never done anything like that before
Can you see that bunker?’ I was pointing her in the right direction and I never really had to think of these things on the golf course
the positivity and energy she had to try and get so much better even though she has this extra obstacle that she has to overcome — on top of golf already being hard.”
Schmelzel noted Cunha’s putting prowess as one of the best parts of her game
“She’s a really good putter,” Schmelzel said
Cunha is “a great golfer and an even better person,” Schmelzel said
“She’s such an awesome light to be around,” Schmelzel added
“One of the coolest things about her is that she’s constantly trying to learn and trying to get better
She is such a great example of how we should all be acting in our lives
“We make mountains out of molehills every single day and here’s this person who’s had to overcome so much and is not letting it get in her way
that she’s always trying to get better as a golfer
Dennis Schmelzel named Cunha team captain last August
Cunha has shouldered the responsibility of scheduling practices at Starr Pass
“She has done a masterful job as a golfer and a leader,” Schmelzel said
she really started to blossom and she loved the responsibilities
She has a lot of energy and she has interacted well with other players at tournaments.”
She’s a different kind of kid in this world
Just a tremendous and positive attitude and she deserved the right to be captain.”
Cunha is one of 10 recipients of the first-ever “Royal and Ancient (R&A) Golf Club Scholarship.” Over 200 people worldwide applied for the scholarship
The scholarship is “designed to identify, support and develop the next generation of golf’s leaders through financial support and unique connections to The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews” in Scotland, according to its website
“It’s a feather in her cap,” Dennis Schmelzel said
Cunha will travel to Scotland and stay at The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St
Andrews — also known as the birthplace of golf — for a week
Even though she’ll miss the first week of the fall semester of her senior year at the UA
“I will gladly miss one week of school to be at St
Andrews for 10-15 golfers and will attend a leadership conference
She is also expected to play the course once or twice while she’s there
“I’m so starstruck that I even get to go,” Cunha said
“I get to host a golf clinic at the home of golf
We’re going to have kids with disabilities from schools nearby.”
a club member at The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St
The two will work in tandem to promote adaptive golf at the mecca for the sport
Cunha is majoring in communications at the UA and is hoping to be one of the biggest advocates for adaptive golf
which is more prominent in Europe than the U.S
watches her ball soar during practice on May 2
Cunha is on the University of Arizona adaptive golf team
“Adaptive golf is one of those things that no one is doing right now
“I don’t really have a person to look up to in terms of how to grow it
Having someone who has all of these connections and is a member at (St
Andrews) is the best because I’m able to gain his insight and gain the backing of the (The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St
“I definitely want to work with USGA and (The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St
Andrews) in terms of growing (adaptive golf) into more of a main-stage presence
but I see a chance for it to be more mainstream.”
Cunha hopes her story will inspire other visually impaired golfers or other golfers with disabilities to continue pursuing the sport
“I hope aspiring golfers can see that resilience and determination can take them places,” Cunha said
I want them to see that putting in the work — even if it’s just one thing each day
baby steps — will pay off later on down the line
it was about taking it easy and taking it one step at a time.”
Tucson auto mogul Jim Click and other notable donors of Arizona adaptive athletics have organized a golf tournament
"Cinco de Mayo Golf Fiesta," at Tucson Country Club on Monday to fundraise money for UA adaptive athletics and Southern Arizona Adaptive Sports (SAAS)
Arizona adaptive athletics and SAAS are splitting the proceeds 50-50
The fundraiser has already raised $285,000
Silent and live auctions will be held on Monday after the round
Donations can be made at drc.arizona.edu
Contact Justin Spears, the Star’s Arizona football beat reporter, at jspears@tucson.com
Respond: Write a letter to the editor | Write a guest opinion
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Manchester United are exploring the possibility of triggering the release clause in Matheus Cunha's contract at Wolves
United are looking to bolster their attack this summer and have identified Cunha as one of their top targets
A source has told ESPN that the club have received positive indications about his willingness to move to Old Trafford if he is allowed to open formal negotiations
Cunha is available in a £62.5 million ($83.6m) deal, although there is competition for his signature from a number of Premier League clubs
Matheus Cunha has drawn interest from some of Europe's top clubs following his performances for Wolves. Wolverhampton Wanderers FC/Wolves via Getty ImagesThe 25-year-old expects to leave Molineux ahead of next season
He signed a new contract with Wolves in February on the understanding that he would be allowed to move in the summer
Wolves confirmed their Premier League survival with a 1-0 win over United at Old Trafford on Sunday
Head coach Ruben Amorim was seen deep in conversation with the forward at full-time and name-checked the Brazilian in his pre-match news conference
Since arriving in England from Atlético Madrid initially on loan in January 2023
Cunha has scored 32 league goals -- including 16 this season
A source has told ESPN that one of the reasons he is being targeted by United is his effectiveness in the 3-4-3 system employed by coach Vitor Pereira -- the same tactical set up used by Amorim
Cunha has been identified to fill one of the two No.10 roles behind the central striker. United are also in the market for a new centre forward in the summer with Liam Delap and Victor Osimhen two of the names in the frame
Today, we ran the latest edition of our subscriber-exclusive Ask Ornstein Q&A.
Once a week for an hour, The Athletic’s subscribers can ask me for my views on anything from the football world
I have pulled together some of my favourite questions and my answers below
Would you class Matheus Cunha as likely to go to Manchester United?”
David Ornstein: This is the current direction of travel
but the reporting to date has been fairly accurate
and Manchester United are in a strong position
We understand Cunha wants to join United but they will need to agree personal terms and
trigger the release clause once it becomes active
I’m not aware of any contact with Wolves yet but that is not necessary at this point
So it’s technically not “close” yet — but there is an expectation it could well develop pretty rapidly
asked: “It’s clearly not working for Jack Grealish
Ornstein: I could see a move — presumably on loan — but I’m not aware of takers emerging yet and the big question would be how his salary gets covered
just me speculating… I’d be intrigued to see if a club such as Newcastle could help bring him back to the level we know he possesses and they’re among the teams looking to strengthen in the wide attacking areas
but I’m not sure a switch to London would be on the agenda
Everton are an interesting possibility in my mind
are heading into an amazing new stadium and that would keep him close to home in the north west
I personally still think he has plenty to offer at City
but we can’t deny it has been an unsatisfactory season
It would be good to see him playing regularly and flourishing again
which might not be possible at the Etihad Stadium
Are there still any links to Alejandro Garnacho leaving
we understand this to be highly possible — if proposals are deemed suitable by Manchester United and Garnacho himself
Casemiro and Rasmus Hojlund are also plausible
while the salaries of Christian Eriksen and Victor Lindelof will leave the wage bill
There’s a growing sense that Kobbie Mainoo will stay
although there is a contract situation with him that needs to be addressed
please can you give an update on Chelsea’s transfers
Particularly who they are targeting on the wings
Ornstein: As I and many others have reported
Jamie Gittens and Garnacho that Chelsea are considering
and it is a position Chelsea can be expected to strengthen this summer
asked: “You previously spoke about Morgan Gibbs-White being a target for Manchester City
Is this in addition to Florian Wirtz or an alternative to Wirtz?”
Ornstein: I don’t envisage them both joining City
but both are among the names they are looking at
Can you elaborate on why Victor Osimhen isn’t on the agenda for United
Ornstein: The feeling among most Premier League clubs that have looked into the possibility seems to be that the salary expectations are difficult to meet
and he is perhaps not the player/character they are looking for at present
The consensus among these teams seems to be that Saudi Arabia could well prove his destination
No doubt he is a brilliant goalscorer and those are in short supply
Was really hoping you could answer the following: Arsenal’s reported interest in Dean Huijsen may have come as a bit of a shock to some — can you reveal the depth to which their interest extends to
Would Huijsen also be open to joining the club even though he is almost sure to play second fiddle to William Saliba and Gabriel
Spurs and Newcastle lurking who can offer ‘first team football’
Ornstein: Arsenal’s interest in Huijsen was first mentioned here — it is strong and they remain in contention
Newcastle and Tottenham) who have met his representatives
with Mikel Arteta and Andrea Berta keen to sign the Spain international
Whether or not Arsenal win the race is unclear because it’s still open and I’m not aware of a front-runner between them
Real Madrid have always carried huge appeal to Huijsen
but so far they haven’t moved on this situation and I’m sure he is philosophical about that
I thought Kiwior exiting Arsenal was highly possible… that might be less certain following his recent rise to prominence
Huijsen would play a lot of football at Arsenal and they can now show him many examples of how
players have developed extremely well to become top-level talents
this doesn’t mean he will opt for them; there are pros and cons to each of the suitors
all of whom are ready to pay the release clause
Huijsen and Bournemouth want it sorted sooner rather than later
still attempting to keep Trent Alexander-Arnold or do they see it as a lost cause
he is expected to join Real Madrid as a free agent
asked: “Hi David — a nice and simple question for you
What’s the most realistic landing spot for Liam Delap
Based on player preference and those close to him
He will assess all of the many options and consider what level he wants to take his next step at
I suspect he’ll then whittle it down to a small number of candidates and make a decision before the Under-21 Euros
We know the contenders — including Ipswich
by the way — and the destination will become apparent over the next month or so
it looks like all of Palace’s best players are rumoured to be moving away
Do you expect any movement from the likes of Eberechi Eze
do you have any insight into the transfer policy after Dougie Freedman’s departure as sporting director?”
Many clubs like — and will be looking at — him
but I’m not aware of any concrete movement yet
Same with Guehi (except there’s no clause)
Approaching the final 12 months of Guehi’s contract
it’s a big decision for Palace and the player — depending on what offers come in
You’ll remember Newcastle last summer and he is among those Chelsea are considering
and it wouldn’t surprise me if Palace get some big approaches
Wharton is a wizard and he is going to the very top
I can’t see how some of the biggest clubs don’t explore luring him from Selhurst this summer and
I don’t think the post-Freedman picture is clear yet but I’ll come back to that in the next weeks no doubt
overlooking the usual suspects on transfer rumours
Updates on Everton targets/contracts ahead of their huge overhaul
It would be nice to see some transfer news outside the usual suspects.”
and apologies for how those clubs have dominated here in recent weeks
That will inevitably change in the months ahead as the window evolves and we get more info on their work
and that might largely be because some of them are fairly new set-ups and
fresh executives arriving and something like 12 players under contract this summer
West Ham are going into their first full market under Graham Potter and his sidekick Kyle Macaulay
following the departure of sporting director Tim Steidten
It’s a maiden off-season for Vitor Pereira at Wolves; Matt Hobbs is widely regarded as having done an excellent job around recruitment and squad building but how they approach this trading period is probably still being determined
and it’s likely both will do another round of shrewd business
Definitely a topic I’ll come back to for you
Super agent Jorge Mendes could complicate Manchester United’s summer move for Wolves attacker Matheus Cunha
Cunha has been identified as one of the Red Devils’ top summer targets
with Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap also on the shortlist
Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim is eager to strengthen his attack with Rasmus Hojlund struggling up front and Joshua Zirkzee yet to make an impact in the Premier League
A lack of ruthlessness in front of goal has been one of Amorim’s biggest issues since taking over in November
so it’s no surprise to see both Delap and Cunha emerging as options
Cunha is reportedly being lined up to play as one of Amorim’s ‘wide 10s’ in his preferred 3-4-2-1 formation
while Delap is as a more traditional centre-forward
READ MORE: Liam Delap is a slightly unhinged madman; Man Utd would be lucky to have him
Cunha has a £62.5million release clause in the Wolves contract he signed earlier this year and United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe is reportedly willing to trigger it
the transfer could become complicated if super agent Jorge Mendes becomes involved
While Mendes does not represent Cunha, he holds significant influence at Wolves, and his approval may be crucial to getting the deal across the line, according to Trivela (via Sport Witness)
it is claimed that super agents Mendes and Giuliano Bertolucci – who does represent Cunha – could go ‘head-to-head’ over the transfer
The agent of Cristiano Ronaldo and other global stars is heavily involved at Molineux and ‘plays a big role on club decisions’
particularly when it comes to ‘high impact’ transfers
It’s claimed that Mendes will be a ‘key figure’ in this transfer saga and if he does not approve Cunha’s move to United
The two agents are likely to be going head-to-head again in this deal
with the suggestion that any move to Manchester United won’t happen unless Mendes approves it on Wolves behalf first
Cunha’s Wolves face a tough Premier League test away to Manchester City on Friday night
Vitor Pereira’s side are in red-hot form
having won six league matches on the bounce
and they head to the Etihad brimming with confidence
The Portuguese head coach has stressed the importance of maintaining their intensity against Pep Guardiola’s men
“We live a good moment for what we have been doing
but this does not give the right to relaxation and the players know it,” Pereira said
“I want my team in Manchester to play with the identity we have been creating and competitive
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Manchester United are growing increasingly optimistic a deal for Matheus Cunha can soon be announced with the player’s father dropping a significant hint – and now Fabrizio Romano has rated the prospects of the Red Devils also adding Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo being signed to play alongside the Brazilian
Despite being on the cusp of reaching the Europa League final, Manchester United‘s form in the Premier League this season has not been good enough and portrays a side well behind the English game’s elite clubs
Ruben Amorim faces a huge summer rebuild to try and sign a squad of players capable of bringing his 3-4-2-1 formation to life and helping elevate the club back among the major forces of English football
with United’s tally of 42 goals in their 35 matches played in the Premier League some 39 short of the division’s top scorers
But with Amorim in a rush to fix those issues – the club are working hard behind the scenes to wrap up a deal for Cunha and also hope to sign a new No.9 this summer – reports in the Daily Telegraph on Sunday revealed that United are exploring a possible move for the £60m-rated Brentford forward Mbeumo
who has contributed 18 goals and seven assists from 39 appearances across all competitions this season
However, as per Romano, United are not currently planning a move to sign Mbeumo, though as the transfer guru hints, there remains the strong possibility that the £60m-rated Cameroon international will leave Brentford this summer after what was labelled an ‘open race’
Playing down talk of a United approach, Romano told Givemesport: “As far as I know
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Mbeumo has posted career-best figures under Thomas Frank this season
But with Mbeumo’s deal at the Gtech Stadium runs to summer 2026 – and while the Bees do have the option to extend that by a year – his electric form this season means hefty offers for his services are likely to arrive
Newcastle are also understood to be among his suitors
while Liverpool are also looking at the 22-times capped star as a possible long-term successor to Mo Salah
However, with Romano ruling out a move to Old Trafford as a possibility, United will instead put their energies into wrapping up the signing of Cunha as quickly as possible
To that end, United have a strong optimism that a deal is close to getting over the finishing line, with the player giving the move his green light and with the Brazilian set to sign a bumper contract at Old Trafford
Now the player’s father has also dropped a strong hint that a move is edging closer after liking a comment on the social media platform Instagram from a supporter which read ‘Welcome to United’ after Cunha snr had posted a pic of the player relaxing alongside Joao Gomes
Meanwhile, United’s hopes of generating additional income from their clause in Mason Greenwood’s Marseille contract are growing, amid claims the forward is pushing for a shock return to the Premier League and with two factors forcing his exit from the Ligue 1 giants
Elsewhere, United midfielder Mason Mount has strongly criticised the team’s performance against the Bees on Sunday
while head coach Amorim is in despair over the injury to Matthijs de Ligt
And finally, United are reportedly close to launching an official offer to sign a top-notch Brazilian midfielder with Amorim’s plans to pair him up with Manuel Ugarte in the engine room now coming to light
Manchester United are considering a summer move for Matheus Cunha to supplement their aims of getting more goals in Ruben Amorim’s team
Liam Delap is high in thoughts at United to come in as striker
while Cunha is seen as potentially a good fit for one of the No 10 positions
Signing both players is viewed as plausible if United are able to sell well
while other attacking options are being explored for both forward roles and plenty of talks on targets are anticipated
Figures at United are acutely aware of the need to boost the potency of options available to Amorim
whose team are on course to score 45 Premier League goals this season – which would be a club record low
They are looking at possibly adding two attackers
Cunha has scored 25 Premier League goals in 58 appearances in his last two seasons at Wolverhampton Wanderers and has performed well when facing United
There is a £62.5million release clause in the contract he signed in January
making the parameters clear from the outset and speeding up the process
although there is likely to be flexibility around instalments
is regarded at United as a player at his peak who could make an instant impact
adding more experience than the younger profile of recruitment they are prioritising
Cunha has spoken of his desire to challenge himself after staying at Wolves during the winter window. “I had a lot of offers but I wouldn’t feel well if I had done it,” he told the Guardian in March
“Some things you can’t control but I couldn’t leave the club in the middle of the season
But I’ve made it clear that I need to take the next step
The Brazil international has previously attracted interest from Arsenal and Nottingham Forest
and Wolves would prefer an early resolution to his situation once the market opens on June 1
which complicates matters for United due to their tight finances and the need to raise funds through sales of Marcus Rashford
Aston Villa have a £40m buy option in their Rashford loan agreement
while Chelsea’s £25m obligation on Sancho is set to kick in
albeit they can pay a £5m fee to waive the transfer
Real Betis are very happy with Antony’s loan and might look at a permanent move
Another factor for United to weigh up is Cunha’s wages
thought to be around £150,000 per week due to the terms he agreed amid interest three months ago
The expected departures of Christian Eriksen
Johnny Evans and Tom Heaton when their terms expire at the end of the campaign will free up space on the wage bill
but Sir Jim Ratcliffe wants United to stay disciplined on salaries
Delap’s relegation release clause of around £30m, combined with his record of 12 Premier League goals for a struggling Ipswich side, makes him an appealing proposition for United, whose technical director Jason Wilcox signed Delap for Manchester City’s academy. But Chelsea are ready to rival United for Delap, who is set to be a target for several teams in England and abroad
Benjamin Sesko and Victor Osimhen represent other striker options for United
with both expected to be available in the summer window
Joshua Zirkzee (three in 31) and Alejandro Garnacho (four in 30)
have scored a combined 10 Premier League goals this term
Pushing his temperament to one side for a moment
there is little doubt that Matheus Cunha has been Wolves’s talisman this season
Manchester United have witnessed his cheeky
With Ruben Amorim’s side in desperate need of a player to stitch their attack together
Cunha could be the perfect player to line the midfield and forward line — particularly given that he is adept at playing in a 3-4-2-1 system
Cunha’s record against United inevitably colours perceptions too
Rasmus Hojlund got 10 Premier League goals last term
Matheus Cunha would be a plug-and-play signing for Amorim’s United
Wolves head coach Vitor Pereira plays the same 3-4-3 system as his fellow Portuguese and Cunha has thrived on the left side of the front three with licence to drift in-field
drop deep and operate as one of two No.10s behind a central striker
in a slightly different system under Gary O’Neil
He is an exciting dribbler who can move play from back to front quickly in the best traditions of United
The big question marks will be about Cunha’s character after he was suspended for a total of six games this season after two huge losses of emotional control
when he elbowed and ripped glasses from the face of an Ipswich Town staff member in the wake of what turned out to be Gary O’Neil’s final game in charge
In the previous 18 months he was seen as a warm
Delap is capable of scoring all sorts of goals — headers
long-range shooting — and has benefited from hours on the training ground at Ipswich with coach
Lee Grant — the former Manchester United goalkeeper — who specialises with the team’s attacking players and was once a team-mate of Delap’s father
Grant has worked closely with Delap on every aspect of his performance
including the right way to channel his physicality and unsettle opponents with his powerful build
He has the second-highest number of carries among strikers in the Premier League this season (72) and his average carry distance of 7.3 metres is the highest of any centre-forward in the league
his combative streak makes him such a difficult opponent that it creates space for others
The end result is a player who has established himself as a proven Premier League forward at an age when there is still scope for considerable improvement
Top image: Cunha (Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images)
Delap (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
The amount of money it would take for Man Utd to buy Wolves forward Matheus Cunha “could be an issue” ahead of the summer transfer window
Man Utd are having a terrible time this season with Ruben Amorim’s side now going down as the worst team to have played for the Red Devils in the Premier League era
Only four Premier League teams have scored fewer goals than Man Utd this season with Joshua Zirzkee and Rasmus Hojlund coming under scrutiny for their lack of contributions
Hojlund scored late on to equalise in a 1-1 draw against Bournemouth over the weekend for only his fourth Premier League goal of the season
And a couple of new forward options is top of Amorim’s priority list in the summer with Wolves’ Cunha and Ipswich Town’s Liam Delap heavily linked in recent weeks
former Man Utd chief scout Mick Brown insists that the £62m transfer fee for Cunha could prove difficult unless they can offload Marcus Rashford for a good fee
Brown told Football Insider: “The talk is United want to sign Cunha
It’s a deal I believe they’ve been working on for a while already
but there have been suggestions that there are potential attitude problems there
But he is a quality player and he’s proved that for Wolves this season
“This £62million buy-out clause in his contract is huge
and it could be an issue because United haven’t got that sort of money to spend at the moment
“They’ll be relying on Rashford to go wherever he goes
“Then if they can sell other players they can raise the rest of the money
that’s going to be their aim before they can spend big money on Cunha.”
Another report in Spain from Fichajes claim that Man Utd are looking at Desire Doue as their ‘blockbuster signing’ as they look to ‘break the summer market’
The 19-year-old is at the ‘centre of their transfer radar’ and the Red Devils ‘seem determined to make a strong commitment to him’ as they ‘launch a move’
And it now ‘goes beyond casual monitoring’ as the Man Utd board ‘believe his profile fits perfectly with the offensive renewal they are seeking to foster under a new sporting project’
Man Utd face Athletic Bilbao in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final on Thursday night with the Red Devils knowing they will qualify for the Champions League if they can win the whole competition
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No" (2:28)Jan Åge Fjørtoft joins "ESPN FC" and questions how Liam Delap could fit into a struggling Manchester United side
and Man United will be strong competition with both clubs desperate for reinforcements up front
Villa have an option to make the move permanent for £40m
but it will be an expensive package with the player's £350,000-a-week salary
ESPN's Dale Johnson on the race for Wolves forward Matheus Cunha
Matheus Cunha was something of an enigma when arriving at Wolves two years ago
The Brazil international was signed from Atlético Madrid on loan
with an obligation to make the move permanent after certain clauses were met for a fee which could rise to £35m
It's fair to say Cunha didn't exactly suggest he would be value for money when he was on loan
scoring only two goals and providing zero assists in 17 Premier League appearances
but over the last 16 months has been one of the most productive players in the Premier League
scoring 23 goals and setting up another nine
He's already netted 13 times in this campaign
it's easy to see why the bigger clubs have begun to sit up and take notice
and why Wolves sealed a contract extension in January
But the release clause of just £62.5m means Wolves merely secured a set fee for the summer
The 12 goals in the last campaign came from an xG of 9.55
while this season he has 13 goals from an xG of just 6.74
His minutes per goal is down from 204.4 to 165.0
After escaping with just a two-match ban for snatching the glasses off the face of a member of the Ipswich staff in December
he was then banned for four games after losing his cool when sent off at the end of the FA Cup defeat at Bournemouth last month
play1:41Do Liverpool need to 'rebuild'?Gab Marcotti and Julien Laurens discuss Liverpool's plans for next season
- Barcelona have not give up hope of signing Nico Williams from Athletic Club. Interest from the Premier League, most notably Arsenal, has made a deal more difficult and a move for Liverpool winger Luis Diaz might be more realistic. (Diario Sport)
- Bayer Leverkusen are seriously considering Brentford goalkeeper Mark Flekken. Initial talks have already taken place with the 31-year-old, who is under contract until 2027 and is rated at around €15m. (Florian Plettenberg)
- Liverpool have identified Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Carlos Baleba as a key option for the summer transfer window. The 21-year-old is seen as an excellent fit for Arne Slot's midfield, although the demands of £100m may prove too excessive. (Football Insider)
- Aston Villa will offer Boubacar Kamara a contract "worthy of a top five European club" amid interest from Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City. (L'Équipe)
- Tottenham have no plans to sign Timo Werner on a permanent basis from RB Leipzig when his loan expires in the summer. Werner, who has been struggling with a hamstring injury for the past few months, has scored only one goal all season. (Fabrizio Romano)
- Juventus have identified Ipswich Town left-back Leif Davis as a possible replacement for Andrea Cambiaso. Davis could be a cut-price option for the Bianconeri if Ipswich get relegated. (Football Transfers)
- Fiorentina are set to trigger the additional year in David de Gea's contract. The former Man United goalkeeper signed for the Serie A club on a free transfer last summer and has made 31 appearances in all competitions. (Fabrizio Romano)
- Jamie Gittens isn't satisfied with his situation at Borussia Dortmund and has made the club aware that he wants to leave in the summer. (Sky Sports Deutschland)
- Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey sees a move to Barcelona as his No. 1 priority in the summer. (Mundo Deportivo)
- AC Milan have joined Barcelona in showing an interest in Fiorentina right-back Dodo. (Calciomercato)
- Bayern Munich and Ajax have sent scouts to watch 17-year-old Manchester City attacking midfielder Divine Mukasa, while the Citizens plan to extend his contract. (Fabrizio Romano)
- Liverpool are open to offers for winger Ben Doak as they don't believe the 19-year-old can break into Arne Slot's first team, and they would even be willing to let him join Everton. (Football Insider)
- Augsburg are aware of Stuttgart's interest in Alexis Claude-Maurice but are determined to keep the attacking midfielder and build their team for next season around him. (Florian Plettenberg)
- Everton, Roma and West Ham United are all interested in Sunderland midfielder Dan Neil. (TEAMtalk)
- Fulham want to extend Raúl Jiménez's contract until 2027 but five clubs from the Bundesliga, MLS and Brazilian Serie A are showing interest in the striker. (Ekrem Konur)
The Brazilian is looking to make a step up after realising his 'limitless' potential at Molineux
and he can give United the shake-up they need
Think of all the great Brazilian attacking players to have graced the Premier League and the clubs they played for
Think of Gabriel Jesus or Robinho at Manchester City
Roberto Firmino or Philippe Coutinho's best years for Liverpool
Gabriel Martinelli's recent progress with Arsenal or Willian at Chelsea
Then consider that one player is set to usurp them all as the Brazilian to score the most goals in a single campaign
Matheus Cunha is within one strike of equalling Firmino and Martinelli's joint-best tallies of 15 goals in a season after netting against Tottenham earlier this month
And if he had not been suspended for a total of six games
he would likely be way ahead of those other big names
breaking through in the Bundesliga with Hertha Berlin but then flopping after a big-money move to Atletico Madrid before struggling to find his feet with Wolves
he has rediscovered his scoring touch to devastating effect
The 25-year-old has almost single-handedly kept Wolves in the Premier League in the last two seasons and now he is looking for a new challenge
Arsenal and Chelsea have both been mooted as potential suitors, but a report from The Athletic on Tuesday revealed that Cunha has held positive talks with Manchester United regarding a potential £62.5 million ($84m) move to Old Trafford
Such a move would be ideal for the Red Devils as they truly begin to rebuild under Ruben Amorim..
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Opta Analyst's Matt Furniss looks at why Wolverhampton Wanderers' Matheus Cunha has been their best for the last two seasons and if they can keep hold of him for another campaign
Expect to see Matheus Cunha’s name a lot this summer
Across three seasons at Wolverhampton Wanderers
the Brazilian forward has proven himself as one of the Premier League’s most influential players outside of a select few who are battling for UEFA Champions League football at the top of the table
after helping to secure Wolves’ safety for another top-flight season
the usual transfer speculation is heating up in preparation for the summer window of activity
Reported admiration for Cunha from other clubs is nothing new, nor is it a surprise. Of course, there’s no sign that Wolves are willing to let the 25-year-old leave either, with their own aspirations for a more positive season under Vitor Pereira in 2025/26 undoubtedly more achievable with Cunha on board
Cunha’s had his well-reported disciplinary issues this season - he has missed a total of six matches through suspension - but the positives outweigh the negatives when analysing his impact at Molineux
Cunha is undoubtedly one of Wolves' key attacking players
His third season at the club could prove to be his best in terms of attacking output
Cunha is only one away from his best tally of goal involvements in a Premier League season
He’s been involved in 18 already this season (19 in 2023/24)
with 14 of those being goals – that’s a career best for a single league campaign
Cunha features in the top 10 this season for both proportion of team goals scored (29.2 per cent – eighth) and proportion scored or assisted (37.5 per cent – 10th) in the Premier League
when he ranked ninth (24 per cent of goals scored) and fourth (38 per cent involved in) respectively
While he didn’t have much of an impact in his first half-season after joining on loan from Atletico Madrid in January 2023 (one goal
he’s been a revelation at Wolves in his two seasons since signing permanently
With 36 non-penalty goal involvements in 60 Premier League appearances since the start of 2023/24
Cunha ranks behind only six players for his attacking output in the division over that time
That tally is more than double any other Wolves player across those two seasons (Hwang Hee-chan has the next most
This output far exceeds any other Wolves player
Five of his 26 goals (19.2 per cent) have come from outside the box
which is a tally only five players have bettered since the start of last season
Cunha has scored 14 goals from an Expected Goals (xG) of 7.3
He’s scored nearly double what would’ve been expected of the average player from the shots he’s had
when he also exceeded his non-penalty xG (+2.3)
Over those two seasons, only Phil Foden (+10.5) and Chris Wood (+9.4) have outperformed their non-penalty xG total by more than Cunha (+9.0)
Consistently overperforming on xG models is possible but usually restricted to only the elite finishers in the game
Cunha himself may say he is in this group (Opta don’t record confidence as a metric
Looking at some of the best forwards still playing in the top five European leagues shows how hard it is to sustainably score at a higher rate than your xG
For Cunha to consistently outperform his xG season-on-season isn’t out of the question
Click to zoom in on image.
that’s obvious to anyone who watches him play regularly
One of his main strengths is his ability to run with the ball and progress upfield
he’s among a group of just 20 players to have both attempted (46) and created (31) 30+ shots for his team(s) following a ball carry
while he’s one of only 14 players to have been involved in at least 10 goals following a carry
Click to zoom in on image.
His ability to carry the ball over vast distances on the pitch is helpful for a Wolves team who have often played with a low block and look to counter-attack opponents over the last two seasons
Cunha has averaged 9.0 metres when travelling with the ball upfield since the start of last season in the Premier League. Of players to travel at least 2,000m via progressive carries in that time, only Anthony Elanga (10.8m) and Chiedozie Ogbene (10.8m) have averaged greater distance with their progressive carries in the competition
His ball-carrying ability means he ranks high for take-ons, too. Only three players – Jeremy Doku, Mohammed Kudus and Dejan Kulusevski – have attempted more take-ons in the Premier League since the start of last season than Cunha
and exclusively in the opposition’s half (203)
It’s difficult to talk about Cunha without discussing his much-publicised disciplinary record in 2024/25
This season has seen him miss six matches across two spells after being banned for incidents against Ipswich in December and AFC Bournemouth in an FA Cup tie in March
That could have been even longer if he hadn’t offered to pay for some new glasses for the Ipswich security staff member he became entangled with
It must be said that ill discipline hasn’t been an issue for Cunha throughout his career
was the first since 2020/21 at Hertha BSC in Germany that he’d exceeded five bookings in a competitive campaign
although that number did lead the team rankings
Cunha is undoubtedly one of Wolves' most talented players
following his recent absences for aforementioned disciplinary issues
Wolves have just won five consecutive top-flight matches for the first time since the 1970/71 season. Adding the 1-1 home draw with Everton before this run
they are unbeaten in their last six Premier League games
Cunha has played just 109 of the possible 540 minutes in these games
It’s easy to see why Cunha is considered Wolves’ biggest threat
but the last two months show they can cope just fine without him too
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Enjoy some incredible crosses and passes by the Liverpool full-back as he announces his departure this summer
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Wolverhampton Wanders head coach Vitor Pereira says leading scorer Matheus Cunha will not start Sunday’s Premier League clash with Tottenham Hotspur despite the Brazil international returning from suspension
Wolves have won their last three games and gone four unbeaten in Cunha’s absence after he was sent off in the FA Cup defeat to Bournemouth
Pereira has now taken the unusual step of confirming two days before the game that he will name an unchanged starting XI for the fifth successive game
working and preparing himself to help the team,” said Pereira
It is fair to keep going with the same team
which included an extra game on the sidelines for refusing to leave the field after his red card in the last-16 game
has allowed Marshall Munetsi and Jean-Ricner Bellegarde to thrive in support of main centre forward Jorgen Strand Larsen
And Pereira says Wolves have changed their method of attacking the last four games
we are doing different movements,” said Pereira
we are trying to improve our style of play
Wolves are 17th in the Premier League with seven games left this season
Ruben Amorim has identified the 25-year-old Brazilian as his prime target for the No 10 berth, one of the head coach’s two priority positions, along with a centre-forward.
Rashford is on loan at Aston Villa, who have an option to buy the forward for £40m. United could get a higher fee if Rashford were sold to another club.
Read moreRashford earns about £365,000 a week and will have three years on his contract in the close season
His transfer would release about another £56m in saved salary
giving United close to £100m to finance the deal for Cunha
The Brazilian is thought to earn about £90,000 a week
so if he agreed terms for five years with a considerable salary increase
offloading Rashford should allow United to finance most of the purchase
Rashford is minded that he will not play again competitively for United while Amorim and this executive are at Old Trafford
Casemiro and Rasmus Højlund are other players whose departure would boost United’s transfer budget
Amorim’s first-choice signing at centre-forward is Liam Delap
who has a £30m release if Ipswich are relegated
who have an obligation to buy the forward for £22m-£25m but can pay United £5m if they decide to send him back
If he returns to Old Trafford his asking price would be a minimum of £20m
Offloading Sancho would source most of Delap’s cost
Antony has proved a success at Real Betis since moving on loan in January and United would hope to recoup at least £30m for the forward
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United retain an interest in Napoli’s Victor Osimhen
who has a release clause of about €75m (£64.5m)
But before any deal for the Nigeria international
further money beyond any sale of Antony would need to be raised
who has a year left in the summer on a £370,000-a-week deal
which are ready to meet his £62.5m buyout clause once personal terms are settled
Carmelo and his son attended the birthday celebrations of Wolves teammate Pedro Lima last week and posted a photo of the party to social media
He accompanied the post with the caption: "Relaxed moment at Pedrinho Gomes' first birthday in Wolverhampton
Among the comments on the post was one that said "Welcome to United" - and Carmelo himself liked it
Matheus Cunha's move to Manchester United has been handed a major boost
with reports suggesting that negotiations are entering the final stage
Cunha has been one of the breakout stars of the season with 14 goals and four assists in the Premier League despite Wolves' largely poor form throughout the current campaign
his form has been a key reason for Wolves' resurgence in the top-flight under Vitor Pereira
As such, the big clubs have been circling around for much of the season, with Arsenal and Tottenham also linked in January
before Cunha penned a new deal that seemed to put off any suitors
Yet United remained interested and are now poised to make him their first signing of the summer for £62.5million
Reports in Brazil have claimed that the talks between the parties have now entered the final stages after making 'significant' progress, according to Globo
One of the key reasons behind United's pursuit lies in his familiarity with Ruben Amorim's preferred 3-4-2-1 formation
As Mail Sport revealed, Newcastle United have been the main competition for Cunha's signature
and they were keen to utilise him on the left of their attack
but the 25-year old looks to have been swayed by the prospect of playing a pivotal role in Amorim's squad revamp
Amorim has made no secret of his admiration for Cunha
The United manager was also spotted in conversation with Cunha after United and Wolves met at Molineux and again in the tunnel at Old Trafford on Sunday
United also hope to sign Ipswich Town's Liam Delap but face increasing competition for his signature as Chelsea and others consider activating his £30m release clause.
Owing to PSR, finances are at a premium for Amorim, and further recruitment plans will hinge on both sales and whether they can qualify for Europe.
They have also held discussions over Napoli's Victor Osimhen, Red Bull Leipzig's Xavi Simons and Benjamin Sesko, Eberechi Eze of Crystal Palace and Antoine Semenyo at Bournemouth as they draw up lists for all scenarios.
Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, Antony, Casemiro and Alejandro Garnacho could all be sold this summer but realising their optimum value will not be so easy.
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The No 1 striker target at Manchester United will demand a MINIMUM of a 500 percent wage increase before signing on the dotted line
Matheus Cunha is on course to become Man Utd’s first major signing of the summer
Talks with the Brazilian’s camp are progressing and Cunha has been convinced to sign for the Red Devils
irrespective of whether they qualify for the Champions League by winning the Europa League
Cunha’s club Wolves can be taken out of the equation entirely via a £62.5m release clause. Numerous reports including from The Daily Mail all state Man Utd intend to activate the release clause
Cunha will line up in one of the two No 10 spots behind the striker in Ruben Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 formation
The attacker will form part of a new-look forward line
with the striker position set for change too
Despite links to many a frontman like Viktor Gyokeres, Victor Osimhen and Benjamin Sesko, it’s Liam Delap who is top of United’s shortlist
“In the striker department, it is Liam Delap of Ipswich Town that is their No 1 target,” explained David Ornstein last week
“He has a £30m release clause if Ipswich are relegated.”
Ipswich’s relegation has since been confirmed
meaning Delap’s release clause has dropped in value from £40m to £30m
But according to a fresh update from The Chronicle
any buying club must be prepared to offer a gigantic wage increase
Delap currently pockets just £20,000-a-week with Ipswich
the 22-year-old is ‘expected to ask for wages between £120,000 to £150,000 per week.’
A bump to £120,000-a-week would see Delap secure a 500 percent pay increase
£150,000-a-week would constitute a staggering 650 percent pay bump
While securing a 500 percent wage rise will certainly be a life-changing moment for Delap
offering a player £120,000-a-week is not something that should prevent Man Utd from striking a deal
paying Delap the very top of his wage range (£150,000-a-week) would merely place the striker joint-10th in Man Utd’s list of top earning stars
READ MORE: Man Utd wages: Top 10 earners at Old Trafford revealed as Ratcliffe cost-cutting continues
The bigger issue for Man Utd stems from the fierce competition Chelsea are providing
Those two clubs are by no means alone in chasing Delap’s signature
though the race appears to be boiling down to that pair
Another sticking point for the Red Devils is that unlike Cunha, Delap is believed to favour signing with a club who can offer Champions League football
United’s chances may hinge on besting Athletic Bilbao in the semi-finals of the Europa league before sinking the winner of Tottenham vs Bodo/Glimt in the final
🔴⚫️ Man Utd ‘increase contact’ as Wilcox makes big push to sign ‘dream’ midfielder for Amorim
🔴⚫️ Amorim cuts Gyokeres down in ruthless message over Man Utd transfer as one demand is made
🔴⚫️ Rashford compromises to secure ‘dream’ transfer that won’t please Man Utd
By Ciaran McCarthy
Chelsea – The Blues have perhaps shown the heaviest desire to land the Ipswich star
with TEAMtalk aware they have watched him on multiple occasions since he became a Premier League regular at Portman Road
Liverpool – Our transfer correspondent Rudy Galetti has confirmed Delap is one of the players the Reds are monitoring as a possible upgrade to Darwin Nunez in 2025
Manchester City – A buyback clause inserted into his contract at Ipswich means City always harboured some ambition to bring their former academy striker back to the Etihad if he took flight at Portman Road
and reports have suggested they could take the chance to add him to the side to perhaps fit in alongside Erling Haaland
Manchester United – The progress of the former City man could lead to him being the latest player to don both the red and blue of Manchester – and at a very early stage of his career – with United keeping him in their sights
Tottenham Hotspur – It’s been suggested that Spurs are ‘particularly keen’ to land Delap and were at one point ‘leading the race’ for him after his bright start at Ipswich
which David Ornstein has suggested could well land him at a big-six side
Arsenal – The Gunners are expected to move for a new forward soon
and Delap’s progress means he has made his way onto their radar
meaning he could be part of a new era for the club
Newcastle United – The Magpies are keeping an eye on Delap
despite Alexander Isak looking likely to stay at St
with TEAMtalk sources stating Eddie Howe has been in contact for the striker
Aston Villa – Villa’s interest in Delap hasn’t progressed past the early stages too much after they considered him in January before signing Marcus Rashford
Everton – Ahead of Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s potential exit as a free agent
Everton joined the race for Delap in early April
Brighton – Brighton also raised interest in Delap by gathering information on his situation
Juventus – As a contingency plan for if star striker Dusan Vlahovic has to be sold by the European giants amid contract disputes
Juventus are said to have watched Delap in action
and have their eyes on him as the Serbian star’s successor
in what would be a huge step for him to take
Borussia Dortmund – Interest outside of England is slowly growing for Delap
with Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund linked with his signing
are also said to have taken note of the performances of Delap in his breakout season
Bayer Leverkusen – Ben Jacobs has confirmed that last season’s Bundesliga champions have made enquiries about Delap
who wants to be playing in European football and could have Champions League involvement on offer there
Manchester United are prepared to go all out for a new centre-forward once a deal for Matheus Cunha is wrapped up
and there has been an update on one of their top goalscoring targets
Man Utd are pushing to make Cunha their first summer signing
having recently held positive talks with his entourage
The Wolverhampton Wanderers star is eager to join United even if they fail to win the Europa League and do not have Champions League football next season
As per Fabrizio Romano, contract talks with Cunha are at the ‘final’ stages
United can activate his £62.5m (€73.5m / $84m) release clause
The Brazilian is expected to operate as one of Ruben Amorim’s two No 10s behind their main striker
According to Football Insider
United are ‘ready to sign an out-and-out striker’ once Cunha has arrived at Old Trafford
‘The Red Devils have set their sights on a stunning double deal’ as they look to improve their struggling attack and replace the under-fire Rasmus Hojlund up front
While the report does not name the player United are specifically chasing, that man is widely understood to be Liam Delap of Ipswich Town
Indeed, it emerged on April 10 that United have made Delap – who has been called a ‘beast’ by his Ipswich team-mate Jens Cajuste – their No 1 striker target
They have placed him at the top of their wish list
ahead of other top strikers such as Viktor Gyokeres and Victor Osimhen
Writing on X, formerly Twitter, our transfer insider Ben Jacobs confirmed on Tuesday that Delap’s £30million (€35m / $40m) relegation exit clause ‘is now active’
Delap ‘is expected to prioritise European football’
he is ‘likely to wait and see’ if United win the Europa League before agreeing to join
Man Utd handed HUGE Harry Kane update amid exit clause price drop
Man Utd to submit ‘formal offer’ to sign 32-year-old icon
It is ‘still likely to be a quick transfer’
as all of Delap’s suitors are ready to activate his bargain release clause
The Englishman is ‘expected to pick his next club before heading off to the U21 Euros’
It recently emerged that United are ‘leading the race’ for Delap’s services
Even if they qualify for the Champions League though
Jacobs has confirmed that Newcastle are also ‘keen’
while Bayer Leverkusen and RB Leipzig have ‘made enquiries’
Chelsea are ready to battle United all the way for Delap’s signing
But it is ‘unclear’ if Delap will play for England at the U21 Euros or for Chelsea at the Club World Cup
should Enzo Maresca’s side hijack United’s swoop for him
Meanwhile, sources have informed TEAMtalk that United hold ‘serious interest’ in a coveted Argentine starlet also wanted by Real Madrid
then they could turn their attention to a ‘nightmare’ striker
He is thought to be ‘keen’ on joining Amorim’s side after fresh ‘contact’ was made
Mastantuono is tipped to win his first senior Argentina call up in June
having scored three goals in 12 appearances this year
- FC Porto goalkeeper Diogo Costa is Man United's preferred target as they look to replace André Onana, reports Portuguese outlet Correio da Manha
Several Premier League clubs are interested in the 25-year-old
United sent scouts to watch the goalkeeper in action against Famalicão on Friday
City are reported to be ready to pay €58m for Costa
who has a €75m release clause in a contract which runs to 2027
Porto hope a transfer bidding war will push the price up
but want Costa to stay for this summer's Club World Cup
who has yet to resolve his contract situation but has previously rejected offers from Saudi Arabia
Manchester United and several other clubs are monitoring the Dutchman's situation
The Red Devils are confident of signing Osimhen for a figure under his value due to the 26-year-old entering the final year of his contract
Dale Johnson takes a look at Matheus Cunha with sources telling ESPN that Manchester United are exploring the possibility of triggering his Wolves release clause
while this season he has 14 goals from an xG of just 7.32
His minutes per goal is down from 204.4 to 161.0
- Chelsea's obligation to sign Jadon Sancho from Manchester United for £25m has been triggered, because the Blues cannot finish lower than 15th in the Premier League. However, Chelsea could yet pay a £5m penalty fee to remove the clause and send the player back to Old Trafford. (The Athletic)
- RB Leipzig left-back David Raum is wanted by several unnamed Premier League clubs and could be available for transfer as part of a summer shake-up. The 26-year-old has a release clause worth around €35m-40m. (Sky Sports Deutschland)
- Randal Kolo Muani could still stay at Juventus despite falling out of favour since Igor Tudor took over as coach. The striker is on loan at Juve from PSG and that could be extended into next season if Tudor does not stay beyond the summer. (L'Équipe)
- Feyenoord's €40m-rated David Hancko is being tracked by several clubs ahead of a potential summer transfer. Juventus are interested but face competition for the 27-year-old centre-back from Atlético Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen and Everton. (TMW)
- Paris Saint-Germain will look to agree a new contract with 19-year-old attacker Désiré Doué amid interest from Manchester City. (Sky Sport Switzerland)
- Internazionale have made Marseille winger Luis Henrique a priority for the summer transfer window and have already reached a verbal agreement with the 23-year-old (Foot Mercato)
- Tottenham Hotspur could make a move for Chelsea defender Renato Veiga, and the 21-year-old might be available for £30m. The Portugal international, who is on loan at Juventus for the second half of this season, joined Chelsea from FC Basel for £12m last summer, meaning the club could bank a quick profit for the accounts. (Football Insider)
- Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur are both interested in Lazio defender Mario Gila. The 24-year-old could be available for a fee of €40m-45m. (CaughtOffside)
- FC Porto are considering sending Tiago Djaló back to Juventus early due to disciplinary reasons. The 24-year-old defender reportedly broke club rules by going out on Sunday night, which wasn't his first offence. (A Bola)
- France under-20 international Mathis Amougou, 19, is being lined up to join Strasbourg on loan from Chelsea when Andrey Santos returns to Stamford Bridge in the summer. (L'Équipe)
- Strasbourg captain Habib Diarra will leave the club in the summer, with the 21-year-old midfielder being watched by Brighton & Hove Albion and Everton. (L'Équipe)
- Strasbourg could also swap Chelsea goalkeeper loanees, with Filip Jörgensen or Mike Penders moving to France when Djordje Petrovic heads back to London. (L'Équipe)
- Another Strasbourg player is attracting Premier League interest. Dutch forward Emanuel Emegha, 22, is wanted by Newcastle United. (L'Équipe)
- Barcelona are preparing a fresh move to sign Bernardo Silva from Manchester City this summer. The 30-year-old has been linked with a switch to Camp Nou for several windows, but there are still doubts that the Catalan club could make it work financially. (GiveMeSport)
- Werder Bremen are monitoring Julian Brandt and the attacking midfielder's Borussia Dortmund contract expiring in 2026. A move to Bremen is still deemed to be unlikely as Brandt would have to accept a significant pay cut, but he has previously shared his desire to join them. (Sky Sports Deutschland)
- AC Milan and Napoli are both watching Bologna winger Riccardo Orsolini. I Rossoblu see the 28-year-old as a key player for the club, and they have already turned down an offer of €18m plus Noah Okafor on loan, which was made during the January transfer window. (Nicolo Schira)
- Manchester United wing-back Harry Amass is likely to attract a lot of interest for a loan move for next season. The 18-year-old, who has made seven first-team appearances this season, is likely to play in the Championship. (GiveMeSport)
- Jamie Vardy is considering a move to MLS when his Leicester City contract expires in the summer. (The Sun)
- Arsenal want to move quickly to complete a deal for Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyökeres and talks have opened. (Football Insider)
- Florian Wirtz prefers a move to Manchester City if he leaves Bayer Leverkusen in the summer. (kicker)
- Juventus could include Douglas Luiz or Dušan Vlahović in their offer to sign Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali. (Tuttosport)
- Aston Villa are close to agreeing terms with 18-year-old Rosenborg midfielder Sverre Nypan, with club-to-club talks to follow. (Fabrizio Romano)
- Real Betis want to keep Antony, with the winger having impressed on loan from Manchester United, but they would like another loan for free, while the Red Devils want to bring in funds if they offload him. (Diario Sport)
- Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou is likely to leave, even if the North London club wins the Europa League. (The Telegraph)
- Al Nassr have identified West Ham United's Mohammed Kudus as a back-up option in case they are unable to sign Brighton & Hove Albion winger Kaoru Mitoma. (Football Insider)
- Lazio are ready to trigger a €5m clause to make Nuno Tavares' loan from Arsenal permanent, with the new contract running until 2029. (Nicolo Schira)
- Michael Gregoritsch is considering leaving Freiburg as the forward is unhappy with his game time and is prioritising the 2026 World Cup with Austria. (Florian Plettenberg)
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Wolverhampton Wanderers forward Matheus Cunha has indicated that he is keen to leave the club this summer
saying he has "made it clear that I need to take the next step."
The 25-year-old was heavily linked with a move to Arsenal in January
but he signed a new 4½-year contract in the last days of the transfer window to end the speculation over his future
The announcement of the new deal came after Cunha, the club's top scorer this season with 13 Premier League goals, netted in a 2-0 home win against Aston Villa to lift Wolves out of the relegation zone
"I had a lot of offers but I wouldn't feel well if I had done it," Cunha told The Guardian
"Some things you can't control but I couldn't leave the club in the middle of the season
Matheus Cunha has spearheaded Wolves' efforts to avoid relegation from the Premier League this season. Jack Thomas - WWFC/Wolves via Getty Images"Now
we're close to achieving our goal [of staying up]
But I've made it clear that I need to take the next step
Cunha is serving a four-game ban after admitting to acting in an improper manner after his red card at Bournemouth in the FA Cup on March 1
He is set to return to the pitch for Wolves' match against Tottenham Hotspur at Molineux on April 13
Cunha has also served a two-match ban earlier this season for clashing with an Ipswich Town staff member in December
The forward joined Wolves on an initial loan deal from Atlético Madrid in January 2023 before making the move permanent in the summer
He has made 13 appearances for Brazil and scored his first goal for his country during the team's 4-1 defeat to Argentina on Wednesday.
Reporting by Nick Said; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne and Ken Ferris
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Manchester United are inching closer to agreement with Wolves forward Matheus Cunha over a move to Old Trafford
United will still need to activate the Brazilian's £62.5million release clause but are hopeful of having terms in place by next month while they still have headroom under Profit and Sustainability Rules
As Mail Sport revealed, Newcastle United have been the main competition for Cunha's signature, and they were keen to utilise him on the left of their attack, but the 25-year old looks to have been swayed by the prospect of playing a pivotal role in Ruben Amorim's squad revamp
Owing to PSR, finances are at a premium for Amorim, and further recruitment plans will hinge on sales and whether they can qualify for Europe.
United, meanwhile, have held talks over a deal for Le Havre teenage forward Enzo Kana-Biyik. The 18-year old is out of contract this summer.
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Wolverhampton Wanderers are the hottest team in the Premier League right now, and it’s Matheus Cunha that is making them tick
The Brazilian scored one goal and set up the other two in Saturday’s 3-0 win over Leicester City, Wolves’ sixth straight Premier League victory
again showcasing not only his goalscoring prowess
He now has 15 goals and six assists over the course of the season
displaying his abilities as an all-round forward on a consistent basis
Cunha’s performance has earned him a place in the Team of the Week selected by Alan Shearer, the Premier League's record goalscorer and Hall of Fame inductee
Robert Sanchez (Chelsea)“Made a few great saves and kept a clean sheet that was vital for Chelsea’s hopes of UEFA Champions League football next season.”
Kieran Trippier (Newcastle)“Is really finding his form, providing two assists as Newcastle boosted their prospects of a top-five finish.”
Carlos Baleba (Brighton)“Playing in a less familiar role at centre-back
Baleba slotted in seamlessly and capped off his display with a sensational stoppage-time winner.”
Ryan Sessegnon (Fulham)“Popped up in the right place at the right time to score a last-gasp winner. Is really stepping up for Fulham of late.”
Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool)“What a season he is having
Another spectacular goal and controlled the game superbly.”
Yasin Ayari (Brighton)“Opened his Premier League account with a stunning strike as the Swede continues to impress in his breakout season.”
Rayan Ait-Nouri (Wolves)“Another strong performance down the left flank from the Algerian
who provided the assist for Cunha’s opener.”
Dominik Szoboszlai (Liverpool)“Supplied two assists and was part of a Liverpool midfield that was dominant in the big win over Spurs.”
Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)“Simply sublime
Got his customary goal as he edges closer to the record for goal involvements in any Premier League season.”
Matheus Cunha (Wolves)“Wolves’ main man delivered one again
The Brazilian is such an exciting forward to watch.”
Jacob Murphy (Newcastle)“Won the penalty that Alexander Isak converted to open the scoring and was a constant menace for the Ipswich defence.”
Manager: Arne Slot (Liverpool)“Who else could it be
Has done an incredible job in his first season to win the league with four matches remaining.”
Matheus Cunha's team-mate Matt Doherty took a cheeky dig at Manchester United as he claimed that Wolves star will play in the Champions League soon
With Wolverhampton Wanderers on an unexpected high
Vitor Pereira finds himself with an equally unexpected dilemma before Sunday’s return to Molineux
Pereira has to decide whether or not to recall him
When Cunha began what turned out to be a four-match suspension a month ago
there were fears Wolves would struggle without his creative and goalscoring influence
In the three league games Wolves had played previously this season without Cunha in the starting line-up
they had failed to collect a single point or score any goals
the fans would be counting down the minutes to the Brazilian forward’s return at home against Tottenham Hotspur this weekend
and the fact there is now a debate over whether Cunha will be given an immediate return to the XI says everything about how Pereira’s side rose to the task without him
A record of three wins and a draw in the four games he missed is testament to the performances of his colleagues
not to mention an encouraging sign for Wolves regarding a future beyond this summer that seems certain to be without their attacking talisman
Despite Cunha doing his best to muddy the waters during the March international break
there remains an expectation at Wolves that the 25-year-old will leave in the coming transfer window after two and a half years at Molineux
includes a release clause valued at €75million (£64.2m/$82m)
There is a solid argument that is too low a fee for Cunha in top form
But it was inserted by Wolves to protect an acceptable level of value in their most potent match-winner
while ensuring he was focused when speculation around his future was threatening to overshadow the rest of their season
And Wolves included it amid a feeling the time is right for everyone if Cunha moves on after proving his value as a Premier League star following his transfer from Atletico Madrid
Cunha remains a popular figure among his team-mates
having scored vital goals this season to keep Wolves out of trouble at the foot of the table — they now seem almost certain to avoid relegation
having extended their lead over the bottom three to 12 points with seven games to go — and he is still one of the loudest
most influential voices in the dressing room
with a growing sense that another season at Molineux would only see the problem get worse
his temper has led to him missing Premier League games; first when he inexplicably elbowed a member of the Ipswich Town coaching staff and ripped the man’s glasses from his face in December
resulting in a two-game ban and an £80,000 fine
then the longer four-match suspension after he clashed with Bournemouth defender Milos Kerkez in Wolves’ eventual FA Cup fifth round defeat at the start of March
there is a general feeling that his career in the old gold shirt has reached the end of its natural life
which also included a temperamental evening at Chelsea in January
after which his body language was criticised by Pereira
have left little room for doubt that he is becoming frustrated with life at Wolves and is ready for a fresh challenge
the club and their coach have become frustrated with him
The only time the generally affable Pereira has become mildly irritated in his recent news conferences has been when asked repeatedly about Cunha before games for which the 13-cap Brazil international was unavailable
say that mirrors the inkling behind the scenes that he is now keen to move on and create a team which is not so reliant on a single player
His ability to do so will depend on Wolves’ summer transfer window
when reshaping their forward line will be the priority
is also expected to leave when his contract expires at the end of the season
and Wolves will again hope to offload Portuguese forward Goncalo Guedes after his pre-Christmas spike in form levelled out
Hwang Hee-chan could also be made available
after the club rejected bids of more than £20million from France’s Marseille last summer
all of which means in-form No 9 Jorgen Strand Larsen could be the only regular starting forward from this season still around by the time the summer window closes
Wolves will need to recruit well to give Strand Larsen the quality of players around him to help him thrive but Pereira is keen to build a unit
Facing a selection dilemma this weekend is unexpected
That Pereira is confronted with one at all is a source of encouragement for Wolves’ future
Manchester United are reportedly ready to cash in on Alejandro Garnacho in a bid to sign Wolves star Matheus Cunha