The dust has barely settled on what was arguably Manchester United’s most disappointing season in decades, but the club already appears to be taking decisive steps to fix its shortcomings.
Widespread reports suggest that a deal for Wolves forward Matheus Cunha is all but done, with both personal terms and a transfer fee reportedly agreed upon.
The Brazilian international seems like a strong tactical fit for Ruben Amorim’s preferred 3-4-3 formation, and his performances in the Premier League over the last two seasons have shown he’s more than capable of delivering at the highest level.
In this piece, we explore Cunha’s impact at Wolves, the rise in his stock across Europe, and why Manchester United are leading the race to secure his signature.
Matheus Cunha has been Wolves’ standout performer since making his move permanent before the 2023-24 season. Now, with a switch to Manchester United seemingly on the horizon, the question is—what can they expect from him?
Table of Contents
Cunha’s Rise as Wolves’ Offensive Catalyst
Matheus Cunha has firmly established himself as one of Wolves’ most influential attacking players—arguably their most vital asset up front. His third campaign with the club has been his most prolific yet, marking a career-best in terms of goal contributions.
Cunha racked up 21 goal involvements in the Premier League this season, surpassing the 19 he managed in 2023-24. Impressively, 15 of those were goals—his highest tally in a single league season. He ranks in the top 10 in the Premier League for both percentage of team goals scored (27.8% – 9th) and total goal involvement (38.9% – 9th), mirroring his impact from the previous season when he finished ninth for goals scored share (24.0%) and fourth for overall involvement (38.0%).
Though his initial loan stint after joining from Atlético Madrid in January 2023 yielded just one goal and two assists in 17 appearances, Cunha has transformed into a standout performer since making the move permanent. Since the beginning of the 2023-24 season, he has tallied 39 non-penalty goal involvements in 65 league games—more than double that of any other Wolves player (Jørgen Strand Larsen comes next with 18)—and only seven Premier League players have bettered that output, none of whom were battling relegation.
His 183 shot attempts and 82 shots on target since the start of last season far eclipse those of any teammate. In fact, no player in the Premier League has had a greater share of their team’s total shots than Cunha (21.3%). Notably, five of his 27 goals (18.5%) have come from outside the box—a figure bettered by only six players in the league over the same period.
Still, this level of dominance prompts one pressing question…
Can Cunha Keep Defying the Odds?
In the 2024-25 campaign, Matheus Cunha netted 15 goals—all from open play—despite registering just 8.6 non-penalty expected goals (xG). That means he scored nearly twice what would be anticipated from an average finisher based on the quality of his chances. This isn’t a one-off either; the trend began in 2023-24, when he also outperformed his non-penalty xG by +2.3.
Over the last two seasons, only Phil Foden (+10.5) has exceeded his non-penalty xG by a greater margin than Cunha (+8.7), highlighting just how clinical the Brazilian has been. However, sustaining this kind of overperformance is typically the domain of elite forwards—names like Kylian Mbappé, Harry Kane, Lionel Messi, and Erling Haaland—who consistently defy xG models across multiple seasons.
In fact, only seven players in Europe’s top five leagues have recorded 10+ non-penalty xG in at least five of the past seven seasons and outperformed that tally more often than not. Cunha has shown flashes of elite-level finishing, but joining that exclusive group is a tall order.
So while it’s not impossible for Cunha to maintain this scoring efficiency, the data suggests it’s improbable. If he’s to thrive long-term, especially at a club like Manchester United, he may need to create more high-quality chances—or risk seeing his goal tally fall back in line with expectation.
A Forward on the Move – Cunha’s Elite Ball-Carrying Prowess
Matheus Cunha brings much more to the pitch than just goals, as anyone familiar with his playing style can attest. One of his most valuable assets is his ability to carry the ball and advance play—often turning defence into attack in a matter of seconds.
Since the start of last season, Cunha has emerged as one of the Premier League’s most effective ball carriers. He is one of only 15 players to have both attempted (55) and created (38) 35 or more shots following a carry, and among just 12 players to have been directly involved in 12 or more goals from ball carries.
This ability has been especially crucial for a Wolves side that often operates from a low block and relies on swift transitions. Cunha’s knack for driving forward with purpose has allowed him to cover significant ground—averaging 8.8 metres per carry since the beginning of last season. Among players who’ve recorded at least 2,000 metres via progressive carries in that time, only Anthony Elanga (10.4m) and Chiedozie Ogbene (10.8m) have carried the ball further per attempt.
His directness and close control also place him among the Premier League’s most active dribblers. Since the start of last season, only Jérémy Doku and Mohammed Kudus have attempted more take-ons than Cunha (290), and he ranks fourth for take-ons in the opposition half (213).
Cunha’s ability to advance play through carries and take-ons adds an important dimension to his game—making him a versatile threat beyond just putting the ball in the net.
Tempered Fire – Assessing Cunha’s Discipline Record
Any assessment of Matheus Cunha’s recent performances wouldn’t be complete without acknowledging his disciplinary issues during the 2024–25 season.
The Brazilian forward missed six matches across two separate suspensions following controversial incidents—first against Ipswich Town in December and then during an FA Cup tie against Bournemouth in March. The former was defused with a gesture of goodwill, as Cunha offered to replace the security staff member’s broken glasses, potentially softening the disciplinary outcome. Only the Bournemouth clash resulted in a red card.
Despite the headlines, Cunha’s overall disciplinary record is not as severe as it may seem. Since the beginning of last season, he has received 15 cards in all competitions for Wolves (14 yellows and one red)—a figure that doesn’t even place him in the Premier League’s top 50 most-booked players during that period. By comparison, Moisés Caicedo (27 yellows) and Edson Álvarez (24 yellows, 2 reds) lead the league in bookings.
Moreover, this season stands out as something of an anomaly for Cunha. Prior to this campaign, the last time he surpassed five yellow cards in a season was in 2020–21 with Hertha BSC, when he picked up nine bookings. That total, while the highest in his team that year, was still relatively moderate.
While Manchester United may want to stress the importance of discipline should Cunha make the move to Old Trafford, his overall record doesn’t suggest a long-term behavioural concern.
Tactical Match – Why Cunha Aligns Perfectly With Amorim’s Vision
A major factor behind Manchester United’s pursuit of Matheus Cunha is how seamlessly he fits into Rúben Amorim’s tactical framework.
Cunha has spent the majority of the 2024–25 season operating in a system almost identical to Amorim’s trademark 3-4-2-1. Both Gary O’Neil and later Vítor Pereira utilised this setup at Wolves, meaning the Brazilian already has significant experience performing within the shape United’s new manager is expected to stick with.
At Wolves, Cunha predominantly featured as the left-sided number 10, playing 61% of his minutes in that role. In possession, this structure regularly morphed into a 3-3-2-2 formation—a transition Wolves adopted 34.1% of the time under Pereira, closely mirroring the 32.4% used by Amorim.
In that tweaked system, Cunha often played as one of the two advanced attackers, but his positional flexibility allowed him to drop deeper into a supporting midfield role when required. That versatility will be invaluable for Amorim, particularly as he looks to reshape a squad that includes players struggling to adapt to his tactics.
Alejandro Garnacho, for example, is reportedly set to leave the club due to his incompatibility with the dual number 10 role. With Cunha as a likely replacement, Amorim could have a player far more suited to his demands, potentially accelerating the tactical transition at Old Trafford.
FAQs
Why does Manchester United want to sign Matheus Cunha?
Manchester United targets Matheus Cunha because he fits perfectly into Rúben Amorim’s 3-4-3 system and offers proven Premier League quality.
How did Matheus Cunha perform for Wolves in 2024-25?
Cunha recorded 21 goal involvements, including a career-best 15 goals, making him Wolves’ most effective attacking player this season.
Can Matheus Cunha sustain his goal-scoring form?
Cunha has consistently outperformed his expected goals (xG), but sustaining such form long-term is rare and usually reserved for elite finishers.
What makes Cunha’s playing style unique?
Cunha excels at ball carrying, ranks among the Premier League’s best for take-ons, and frequently creates chances after driving runs.
Should Manchester United worry about Cunha’s discipline?
Despite two suspensions in 2024-25, Cunha’s overall disciplinary record isn’t alarming and hasn’t been a consistent issue throughout his career.
