Matheus Cunha to Manchester United deal close as Ruben Amorim 'green lights perfect signing' | OneFootball

Red Devils pushing to finalise first summer transfer with agreement said to be near

Manchester United are reportedly closing in on the signing of Wolves forward Matheus Cunha.

United were rumoured to be planning early pursuits of both Cunha and Ipswich striker Liam Delap, who has a number of potential suitors and a release clause that will fall to £30million as a result of the Tractor Boys’ relegation this season.

It appears the Red Devils have been pushing to conclude the deal for Cunha first, with a potential battle looming with the likes of Chelsea, Newcastle and Nottingham Forest for Delap.

According to transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano and GiveMeSport, Cunha has accepted the move and is now on the verge of agreeing personal terms.

He reports that Amorim has already given the green light to the deal, with United said to view the 25-year-old as “perfect” for their project having made new contact over the last 48 hours and offered a long-term contract.

Cunha has scored 33 goals and provided 15 assists in 90 appearances for Wolves since joining initially on loan in January 2023 before then finalising a permanent £35m switch from Atletico Madrid that summer, having previously played in Germany with both Hertha Berlin and RB Leipzig after starting his career in Brazil with Coritiba and FC Sion in Switzerland.

He has one goal in 13 senior international caps for Brazil to date. This season, he has netted 17 times with six assists for Wolves in 34 outings across all competitions.

Cunha was strongly linked with an exit from Wolves in January amid reported interest from United, Arsenal and Tottenham, but ended up signing a new four-and-a-half year contract at Molineux lasting until the summer of 2029 that was said to contain a release clause valued at approximately £62.5m.

He has served two bans this season, the first of which saw him suspended for two games and fined £80,000 after clashing with a member of Ipswich’s security staff after Wolves’ 2-1 loss at Portman Road in December.

Cunha also ended up missing four matches and was fined another £50,000 as a result of his actions after Wolves’ FA Cup fifth round penalty shootout defeat at Bournemouth in March, with the Football Association (FA) adding an extra game to his automatic three-match suspension for a straight red card for violent conduct after a clash with Cherries defender Milos Kerkez.