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Ruben Amorim has been told Arsenal and Chelsea-linked star Matheus Cunha would ‘definitely improve’ his Manchester United team.
Cunha has been heavily linked with a move to Arsenal and Chelsea this month but will be staying at Wolves until at least the summer after signing a new contract with the Midlands club.
Brazil international Cunha has been one of the standout players at Molineux since his move from Atletico Madrid in 2023, scoring 14 goals last season.
Cunha is on course to better that tally in a season Wolves face a huge fight to stay in the Premier League despite Saturday’s crucial 2-0 win over local rivals Aston Villa.
Given Wolves’ struggles and the prospect of a relegation battle, Cunha was said to be keen to leave the club amid long-term interest from Arsenal and fresh interest from Chelsea.
Mikel Arteta is desperate to bolster his attacking options at the Emirates Stadium and is a known admirer of the 25-year-old.
But Wolves confirmed Cunha had signed a new long-term deal on Saturday evening, though there is reportedly a release clause in the contract that could be activated by rival clubs.
Manchester United reportedly placed Cunha on a shortlist of potential targets before he put pen to paper on a new deal and Liverpool legend Mark Lawrenson insists he would ‘improve’ Amorim’s squad.
Speaking to Paddy Power, the legendary defender and former Match of the Day pundit said: ‘I think Matheus Cunha is a top player and he’d definitely improve Manchester United.
‘Wolves won’t want to sell him, but players have a way of getting out without saying it.
‘Wolves sold most of their top players in the summer, so you can understand why they’ve been struggling this season, so I reckon that Cunha will be desperate to leave.
‘I imagine there will be a few teams who would love to take him, but let’s see if he leaves or not.
‘Manchester United have some great players, but their issue is that they have quite a few ordinary players in the squad.
‘The running of the club is quite strange. They’ve been cutting loads of jobs, and I think it sends out a strange message as you’ve got new owners who have come in with plenty of money, but don’t want to spend the money to keep people around. The club is toxic.
‘I reckon United have four or five good players in the squad, but the rest aren’t good enough, so when it comes to playing against the teams in the league, such as Brighton and Bournemouth, they are getting punished.
‘Nowadays, every Premier League side have money, so they are spending wisely and bringing in talented players, which is making the competition in the league much stronger.’
Cunha indicated he would be staying at Wolves with his celebration after the club’s much-needed victory over Aston Villa on Saturday.
Explaining his decision to sign a new contract, Cunha told Wolves’ official website: ‘I feel so good here, with the love the fans give to me and my family.
‘I always go to the pitch and try to give back. Of course, there was a lot of noise around what Matheus would do.
‘I feel happy. I used my heart to make this decision, more than anything. It was my passion. I love being here.
‘Everyone wants something more for their career, but I feel this is the moment to keep fighting and show everyone what we have, and what love I want to give back.’
Manchester United’s hugely inconsistent form under Amorim continued on Sunday as they were beaten 2-0 at home by Crystal Palace.
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