Latest news with #Cunha
Daily Mirror
11 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Ruben Amorim faces ‘problems' with Man Utd's first summer signing, says Lineker
Matheus Cunha is closing in on a move to Manchester United after the Red Devils agreed a fee with Wolves for the forward, but Gary Lineker has warned that the 26-year-old can be "problematic" Gary Lineker has sounded a note of caution to Manchester United regarding their pursuit of Wolves forward Matheus Cunha. United endured a miserable campaign, finishing 15th in the Premier League and losing to Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League final. That defeat meant the club missed out on a possible Champions League spot and will not be able to offer European football next season. Despite the hefty blow that failure will have on the club's transfer budget, United head coach Ruben Amorim is still looking to bolster his squad, with Cunha emerging as a key target. Reports suggest United are prepared to activate his £62.5million buy-out clause to bring the attacker to Old Trafford. However, Lineker has signalled that Cunha might suffer from "lacking team principles and work ethic". "He's an incredibly talented player. There's a slight question mark against Matheus Cunha in terms of managers," Lineker said on the Rest is Football podcast. "He's either brilliant or he can be accused occasionally of lacking team principles and work ethic. "I think a couple of the managers at Wolves have alluded to that. Perhaps, I don't know him personally, but perhaps he can be slightly problematic." In spite of netting 15 goals and chalking up six assists in 33 league appearances for Wolves, who were embroiled in a relegation battle, Cunha also grappled with disciplinary issues throughout last season, as per the Manchester Evening News. The 26-year-old was handed a two-game ban in December after appearing to elbow an Ipswich Town staff member before removing the same person's glasses. In March, he was also suspended for four games after headbutting Bournemouth defender Milos Kerkez and being escorted down the tunnel during an FA Cup clash. However, Micah Richards thinks a move to United could be just what Cunha needs to put past troubles behind him. The ex-Manchester City centre-back believes that a change of scenery to a bigger club could help Cunha thrive. "I think that 's more out of frustration," Richards said in response to Lineker's comments. "I think if you're playing with–where Man United finished this season, you can't even say a better team–but ultimately a bigger club and better players, ego is put to the side a little bit. "I think he's perfect for that system with two number 10s. He loves drifting to one side, getting on the ball, really creative and he can see a pass, so I think he'll be a good signing for Man United if they can get him." With Amorim downplaying the need for extensive squad renovations, it's yet unclear who else will join Cunha at the Red Devils, should he make the move. "Without Champions League, we don't need a big squad, we can control the squad in a better way," Amorim said during United's post-season tour. "It's not going to change so much because we have the financial fair play rules. "We are not allowed to do much this summer, even with Champions League, so we are prepared for that. It's important to stick together. We are going to struggle, it is not going to be everything right away but I have a feeling and I see the team improving and that is the most important thing."
The Sun
12 hours ago
- Business
- The Sun
Ruben Amorim ‘demands Man Utd sign ANOTHER attacking midfielder after Matheus Cunha' in hint Bruno Fernandes will quit
RUBEN AMORIM has told Manchester United transfer chiefs to sign another attacking midfielder this summer after Matheus Cunha, reports suggest. The Red Devils look set to land Cunha, 26, after agreeing terms on a payment structure for the Wolves star's £62.5million release clause. 6 6 6 6 However, with Bruno Fernandes mulling over whether to leave the club amid interest and a £100million offer from Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal, Amorim has urged club chiefs to sign another attacker. Fernandes, 30, was his team's top scorer and creator, with 19 goals and 20 assists in all competitions. Man Utd desperately struggled to score goals despite the Portuguese's exploits, and more firepower is at the top of the agenda this summer. That led them to buying 26-year-old Cunha from Wolves after his 15-goal Premier League season. But according to sport journalist Ben Jacobs, speaking on the United Stand, Amorim has made it clear to transfer chiefs Christopher Vivell and Jason Wilcox that signing just one new recruit is not enough. Amorim has demanded that ANOTHER attack-minded midfielder - whether that be an advanced central midfielder or number 10 with good output - be signed in addition to the Brazilian. Jacobs then said that Man Utd are in the chase to land Brentford ace Bryan Mbeumo, but will need to fend off rival interest from Newcastle. He said: "Newcastle and Man United, I'm told are the main suitors for Bryan Mbeumo... Another 10 [as well as Cunha] could be possible." Earlier this week reports suggested the Bees had set a £50m price tag on the 25-year-old, who contributed 27 goals and assists to the Bees Prem campaign. Thomas Frank has hinted he is up for sale, but will only go for a "nice amount". Frank told Viaplay: "It is clear that if he is to be sold, it must be for a nice, nice amount. It is a lot. Mucho. Really a lot. "Then it is clear that it is impossible to replace him one for one. It cannot be done. There is a reason why he costs x number of million pounds, and we do not have x number of million pounds to buy for. 'I would say that I would be surprised if a lot of big clubs don't look at him. I would be surprised with what he has to offer. How many wingers score 20 goals for a mid-table club? "And then with seven assists plus his work ethic. And his character. All these things mean that he has a lot, so he is a good player.' 6 6
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Matheus Cunha will bring 'explosiveness' to Man United
Lies, damned lies, and statistics. Modern football exists as much on spreadsheets on laptops as it does in stadiums such is the incredible proliferation of statistical analysis in recent years. Clubs like Brentford and Brighton & Hove Albion have achieved incredible success, on and off the pitch, by using data to gain significant advantages on clubs with more resources but less knowledge. We're looking at you Manchester United. Advertisement But this shift towards statistics can often lead to individual data points being used to form narratives which are much more nuanced than on first glance. And a recent chart, detailing how Matheus Cunha 'spent more time walking' than any other outfield player in the Premier League, is a perfect example of this misrepresentation. Data Without Depth Tweet: 'Matheus Cunha is heading to Manchester United but Opta stats reveal he spent more time walking than any other Premier League player this season.' Match of the Day revealed the Wolverhampton Wanderers forward spent 77.1% of his season 'walking' – the highest in the league outside of goalkeepers, with four defenders making up the rest of the top five. Advertisement This chart blew up on social media given Cunha is set to join United this summer in a deal worth £62.5 million after an agreement was reached with the Brazilian international. It was described as evidence the club were welcoming another lazy player with a lackadaisical attitude to Old Trafford for big money; an illustration the Red Devils were not heeding lessons from the past. But the chart omits the fact that Cunha was one of only two players in the 'bottom ten' of the Premier League to reach the 20 mark for goals and assists, along with West Ham winger Jarrod Bowen. The 26-year-old forward finished the season with 15 goals and six assists without scoring a single penalty. Only five players scored more non-penalty goals than Cunha – Mohammed Salah, Alexander Isak, Erling Haaland, Yoanne Wissa, and Chris Wood. Advertisement The chart ignores Cunha produced these numbers while playing for one of the worst teams in the division, a side who flirted with relegation for much of the campaign before Vitor Pereira's arrival at Christmas. But, being fair, neither Cunha's attacking threat nor his place in a poor team (though this experience will prepare him well for a switch to Old Trafford) necessarily excuse a lazy attitude on the pitch. He can be an elite goal threat hindered by inferior teammates and still demonstrate a lethargy which could worry United fans. The issue is that this chart offers zero insight into what Cunha does for the remaining 22.9% of his time on the pitch. 'If you want explosiveness…' STATSports, an industry leading data analysis group in football, reveals Cunha ranks highly in comparison to his Wolves' teammates for 'explosive' statistics, dispelling the idea of laziness. Advertisement Amongst the senior squad at Molineux, Cunha ranks third for 'most sprint distance' and 'most sprints', while clocking in at second for 'percentage of his time spent sprinting (per 90).' The idea that the Brazilian spends the second most amount of time sprinting for his side while simultaneously spending the most amount of time walking out of any outfield Premier League player shows the issue with analysis statistics in isolation. The former paints the picture of a relentless player who simply does not stop running; the latter suggests a story of laziness and arrogance, a player who considers himself 'above' running off the ball such is his talent on it. As with every black and white story, the truth will lie somewhere in the grey. Advertisement Cunha is an explosive player in attack who can contribute much more in defence. This does not indicate an inherent issue with work-rate, rather the reality of a brilliant attacker playing for a team teetering on relegation. A player who believes he has outgrown his club will often struggle to find the motivation to run for every ball. A good example of this situation was Youri Tielemans at Leicester City who eventually moved to Aston Villa on a free transfer, despite excellent performances at the heart of the Foxes' midfield. Yet there were concerns over the Belgian's work-rate, most notably from Leicester fans themselves, and other clubs neglected to follow up their interest. But it has proven a revelatory signing for Villa with Tielemans arguably Unai Emery's most important player in the last two season. The 28-year-old midfielder was spurred on by arriving at a bigger club with better players and higher expectations; rather, he felt he was at home. It should prove a similar experience for Cunha who is believed to see Old Trafford as a dream move with a firm motivation to help turn the clubs fortunes around. Advertisement Ruben Amorim has repeatedly referenced the need for hard yards since arriving in Manchester n November. Working hard is a pre-requisite to play under the Portuguese coach, as Marcus Rashford can attest to from Birmingham. But Amorim has played a key role in identifying Cunha as a target and spoken with the forward over the role he will play for the Red Devils. If the former Sporting manager was in any worried by Cunha's tendency to walk, United would have walked away from the deal long ago. STATSports concludes their analysis of the Wolves Player of the Season by stating, 'If you want explosiveness, Cunha gives it to you.' Amorim will be hoping the Brazilian international has an explosive effect on United's misfiring attack next season. Featured image Carl Recine via Getty Images Follow us on Bluesky: @
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Matheus Cunha transfer 'rows' at Man Utd jeopardise club's summer negotiations
All signs suggest Matheus Cunha is set to join Manchester United this summer, but there have been some hiccups in negotiations threatening to unravel the transfer Alan Shearer has expressed worries about the "rows" between Manchester United and Wolves concerning Matheus Cunha's potential transfer to Old Trafford. It's been indicated for some time that the Brazil international will be joining United, but recent hiccups have emerged that could jeopardise the move. Talks accelerated this week after United triggered the £62.5million release clause in Cunha's contract. However, Sky Sports reported Vitor Pereira's team had rejected the Red Devils' offer to split the payment across five instalments. Ruben Amorim has been braced to enter his first summer transfer window at the United helm with limited resources. And funding is sure to suffer further after their defeat against Tottenham in the Europa League final, leaving the club with no European football next season. United now need to sell certain players before they can afford to spend any significant sums. And Newcastle legend Shearer raised doubts regarding United's prospects of securing Cunha amid recent developments. "Who they sell, I don't know. If they need to raise funds then they have a couple of options to do that," he told Betfair. "It looks as if the Cunha deal is going to happen albeit I saw that there's rows in terms of how payments will be made." The transfer saga seems to have taken a positive turn after United agreed to shell out the £62.5m fee in three payments spread over two years. Cunha is now poised to have his medical at Carrington, potentially marking United's most significant acquisition of 2025. The former RB Leipzig and Atletico Madrid attacker has an impressive record of 33 goals in 92 games for Wolves and offers much-needed versatility up top. Meanwhile, Shearer has cautioned that there's still a hefty amount of squad rebuilding necessary before United can dream of fighting for a top-six finish again. He continued: "Man United need an overhaul but it won't happen in one or two transfer windows and that's why, as a player, you have to think long and hard about needing or wanting to go there because it's going to take two or three years to get anywhere near the levels to challenge for the top six again. "If funds are going to be tight due to PSR then their assets in [Alejandro] Garnacho and [Bruno] Fernandes may have to be sold to bring funds in. Nothing surprises me with Man United on or off the field anymore because they've been an embarrassment over the last 12 months." Cunha himself has dropped a big hint he's preparing to leave after seemingly bidding farewell to his Wolves supporters. The club's official Instagram account featured a clip of the Molineux faithful serenading the star following their last game of the campaign, and Cunha's response seemed to indicate plans for departure. "I can't thank you enough for so much," he wrote in the comments section. And many have interpreted his words as an indication his tenure in the midlands is nearing its conclusion. Garnacho, 20, has been placed on the transfer list following a fallout with Amorim, who excluded him from the squad that beat Aston Villa on the final day of the season. There's talk United are aiming to bag up to £70m for the youngster, although their negotiating stance seems frail. United will undoubtedly be keener to cling on to captain Fernandes, who was previously rumoured to be on the radars of Barcelona and Real Madrid. Meanwhile, a move to Saudi Arabia now appears to be the most probable outcome if he were to depart.
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Cunha tipped to replace 'disappointing' Man Utd star and make huge impact
Matheus Cunha is edging towards a £62.5million switch to Manchester United with his imminent arrival lauded - but Mason Mount's role has been questioned as a result Manchester United have been told that Matheus Cunha is "exactly what they need" as a £62.5million move from Wolves edges ever closer. The Brazilian already has an agreement in place with the Red Devils as the financials are thrashed out. Cunha has been a leading light at Molineux, helping steer them clear of a relegation scrap. The forward was crucial to their upturn in form throughout 2025 but is now set to be the first signing of Ruben Amorim 's summer rebuild. The Wolves star is set to compliment the 3-4-3 system that is being implemented in Manchester with ex-Red Devil Louis Saha insisting he has all the traits and the temperament to succeed at one of the world's biggest clubs. Liverpool boss Arne Slot previously claimed Cunha was more than capable of playing for one of the Premier League's top sides and, after a 15-goal season, Saha believes he will be a shrewd addition. He told 10bet : "Matheus Cunha is exactly what United need. He's got speed and stamina. He's unpredictable and he's powerful. He's got legs, he's got skills, he's got the right attitude. "He works hard but he's also creative. He gives the opponents a headache to try to solve the problems he poses. He can be decisive and he can cut it in the Premier League. He's already shown that he's good enough. Not only that, I think he can handle the pressure, and he is versatile enough to play in midfield or across the front line." Saha has hinted that Cunha could come in and replace Mason Mount, who has struggled for form and fitness throughout his time in Manchester. The ex-Chelsea man joined for a hefty fee but has been unable to have the desired impact and could lose out. "That's the kind of player that United need," said Saha. "When you look at Mason Mount, who has been unlucky with injury, but he doesn't exploit the space like Cunha does. Mount finds space, but he's not dangerous in the pockets when he finds them. It's disappointing from such a big signing." United are set for an overhaul after a dire season. They're without Europe next year but have acted quick in the market and, alongside Cunha, are making moves to land Liam Delap from Ipswich amid competition from Chelsea.
