Arsenal’s pursuit of Matheus Cunha has hit an obstacle, as Wolves are reportedly working on a new contract for their star player.
Mikel Arteta‘s side have been linked with the forward as they seek to bolster their attacking options following the injury to Bukayo Saka.
The England international is facing a lengthy spell out after undergoing hamstring surgery, leaving Arsenal short in attack. Summer signing Raheem Sterling has also been sidelined due to injury recently, and speculation about a recall for Fabio Vieira, currently on loan at Porto, has died down.
In January 2023, Arsenal turned to the Premier League for reinforcements, bringing in Leandro Trossard from Brighton. Cunha has now been linked with a similar switch, but Wolves are eager to secure his future.
The Mail reports that Wolves are ‘determined’ to tie the £70m-rated Cunha down to an improved deal. This could include a release clause, but it would likely keep the Brazilian at Molineux for the rest of this season at least unless Arsenal are willing to spend big on him.
Cunha, 25, joined Wolves initially on loan from Atletico Madrid in January 2023. He made the move permanent at the end of that season for a club-record fee and was Wolves’ top scorer last season with 14 goals in all competitions.
Cunha has nearly equalled his previous season’s goal tally, with the forward securing 10 goals in just 18 league games. A brilliant start under Wolves’ new management has seen Pereira bag seven points from nine, propelling the team above the relegation zone.
Turning heads towards Arsenal, Arteta faced questions regarding potential January transfers ahead of their clash with Brighton.
The boss said: “I don’t know, again because the focus is on the players that we have. When something is in the market that we can afford and believe is going to have a real impact on the team, we have to be open to that possibility. We have the ability to change the squad in the windows, but at the moment the focus is on what we have.”
Regarding team news, Kai Havertz, absent from the victory over Brentford due to illness, might make a comeback, while Sterling is on the verge of returning to the squad.
Arteta shared a positive update about Sterling’s recovery, saying, “I think he’s starting to do some stuff on the pitch so that’s great news. As quickly as possible we want him available. Let’s see how he progresses this week and then see if we can go for the following week.”
