Matheus Cunha transfer: Why the Wolves forward will be in demand this summer
Matheus Cunha is set to leave Wolves at the end of the season; Cunha has a £62.5m release clause and has previously been linked with Arsenal, Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa
Tuesday 1 April 2025 08:20, UK
Spectacular goals, eye-catching creativity and ball-carrying brilliance. It's no wonder that Wolves forward Matheus Cunha will be in high demand this summer.
Cunha is poised to leave Molineux at the end of the season after telling The Guardian in March: "I've made it clear that I need to take the next step."
With his intentions clear, Cunha is likely to be one of the most talked-about names during the summer.
The forward has found himself in hot water over disciplinary issues this season, including a sending-off against Bournemouth in March, but here we explain why he is a coveted talent.
Clinical finishing
Cunha's goals are of course key to his attraction.
The 24-year-old, formerly of RB Leipzig, Hertha Berlin and Atletico Madrid, arrived at Wolves with untapped potential but he has delivered on it at Molineux, following up a 14-goal campaign by reaching double figures before the halfway point of this season.
His total of 24 non-penalty goals across the last two Premier League seasons puts him among the competition's top scorers, level with Cole Palmer and behind only seven players. It is all the more impressive given he has done it in a struggling team.
His tally includes some stunning efforts, converted from improbable angles and in unlikely circumstances, many of which have come against the sides who now covet his signature.
In December, there was a goal directly from a corner against Manchester United. Last season, Cunha scored an emphatic strike with his weaker foot against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium. Forest fell victim to a superb solo strike at the City Ground.
Cunha feeds off limited service at Wolves but still manages to get a high volume of shots off. In fact, he ranks fifth in the division for shots this season. Crucially, he also has a knack for converting low-quality chances, something which shines through in the underlying numbers.
Since the start of last season, Cunha has scored a total of 25 Premier League goals from only 16.21 expected goals. In other words, he has scored nearly nine goals more than he should have, based on the quality of his opportunities.
His numbers put him behind only Manchester City's Phil Foden and Forest's Chris Wood among Premier League players in terms of expected goal overperformance.
Is his overperformance sustainable? Maybe not to this extent. But the fact his numbers have held up for two seasons bodes well. For his suitors, it is tantalising to imagine what this game-changing talent might be able to produce with better service.
Creativity and link play
Cunha is a creator as well as a scorer. This season, he has created nearly twice as many chances as any other Wolves player. His ability as a set-piece taker is unlikely to have gone unnoticed by dead-ball specialists Arsenal but he excels from open play too.
The graphic below illustrates the breadth of his creativity. There is a high concentration of opportunities from left-wing corners but Cunha has also provided openings from short passes in and around the opposition box and even long balls from inside his own half.
He has provided four assists in addition to his 13 goals this season and his numbers were even more impressive last term, when he made seven assists to go with his 12 Premier League goals. His selflessness could be seen when he squared for Hee-Chan Hwang to score in the Boxing Day win over Manchester United rather than shoot himself.
"He can create something special," Wolves boss Vitor Pereira told Sky Sports. "He has everything we want from a creative player."
His ability to combine with team-mates and link the play is another strength, with Cunha having made more passes in the final third than any other Wolves player this season.
Ball-carrying and 'unpredictability'
When he is not unleashing shots on goal or unpicking defences with passes, Cunha can often be seen charging forward with the ball seemingly glued to his feet. The Brazil international combines pace and power with outstanding close control and one-on-one ability.
His ball-carrying is a major asset to Wolves, helping to relieve pressure and take them upfield, and it can be seen in the numbers. Cunha has carried the ball nearly 5km this season, putting him among the Premier League's top 10 attackers for carry distance.
His marauding runs are invaluable as means of destabilising opposition defences and frequently put him in shooting positions. In fact, his total of 24 shot-ending carries this season is bettered by only six players, among them Mohamed Salah and Cole Palmer.
He ranks above both of those players, though, when it comes to dribbles completed. Cunha ranks sixth among Premier League forwards on that front.
"He's fast with the ball, he's unpredictable with the ball," added Pereira to Sky Sports. It is a devastating combination.
Versatility factor
Cunha's appeal is enhanced by his versatility.
Since his arrival at Wolves, he has been used in a host of different roles, as shown when breaking down his minutes played by position.
Gary O'Neil, Pereira's predecessor, sought to maximise his goal threat as a No 9, something he detailed in an interview with Sky Sports just over a year ago. But Cunha is most comfortable, and probably most dangerous, when given freedom to roam.
This season, he has mostly played as a No 10, behind Jorgen Strand Larsen, from where he is able to pick up the ball in deeper areas at times - something Pereira has encouraged - and attack the opposition box at others.
He has added poaching ability to his repertoire over the course of his time at Wolves, scoring a string of close-range goals as well as the more spectacular efforts. But it is his all-round attacking offering that makes him a "special" player, to quote Pereira.
Work-rate and intensity
Pereira criticised Cunha's body language and demeanour during Wolves' 3-1 loss to Chelsea in January. For the most part, though, he has demonstrated intensity and work-rate to complement his talent.
"He is an incredible guy with a big heart who wants to do his best for the team," O'Neil told Sky Sports last season. "If you look at his work-rate and the numbers he produces, he works his socks off."
Premier League tracking data shows he ranks top among Wolves players for sprints this season. Only three players, Joao Gomes, Larsen and Rayan Ait-Nouri, have covered more ground.
Pereira has previously outlined Cunha's importance to Wolves' press. This season, he has won possession 17 times in the final third, putting him just outside the division's top 20 players. He also ranks highly in terms of duels won and counter-pressures.
It is just another reason why suitors are circling ahead of the summer.
A version of this article was published in January 2025
