Latest developments
- Arsenal are interested in signing Wolverhampton Wanderers' Matheus Cunha.
- New Wolves boss Vitor Pereira has said Cunha is not for sale.
- The attacker could move on if Wolves go down this season.
Whisper+ analysis
Authenticity (3.5/5): Manager spoken out already
Arsenal are one of a few clubs said to be interested in Wolves forward Matheus Cunha, with a Wolves relegation at the end of the season likely to trigger a move away.
That is being reported in The Athletic, while Wolves manager Vitor Pereira has already spoken about the importance of keeping Cunha in January, as per the Metro. Managers don't tend to talk about holding onto players when there has been no interest, which gives this rumour some meat.
Value (2.5/5): Wolves will want a profit
The West Midlands club's form has picked up under their new boss, with Cunha key to that, but Wolves remain in a perilous position.
Should they go down, Cunha is likely to force a move away, though considering he arrived for £45 million and is under contract until 2027, Wolves won't want to sell him for less, whether they are in the Premier League or Championship come the summer.
Suitability (4/5): In form striker knows the league
The 25-year-old has proven he is capable of being a talisman for a Premier League, having taken time to adapt to English football.
He can play at centre-forward, in behind or on either wing, which would add plenty of versatility to Mikel Arteta's attacking line-up.
Upgrade (4/5): Double figures already
The Brazilian international scored his 10th league goal of the season against Manchester United yesterday, which is more than Arsenal strikers Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus combined in the Premier League.
Logic (3/5): Too good to go down
Wolves may have won two in a row but they remain just one point above the drop zone. Former Atletico Madrid man Cunha is far too good to play in the second tier and will want to be fighting for trophies again.
Arsenal could face competition, but for the price Wolves want they may be better off pursuing the out-and-out central striker they have been missing for so long.
Whisper+ verdict: 17/25
It would be a surprise if Cunha is still a Wolves player come the start of next season, and Arsenal seem to be genuinely interested, but he is quite different to the other strikers they are said to be tracking.
