Manchester United have placed a ‘big money bid’ for Atletico Madrid forward Matheus Cunha, according to talkSPORT reporter Alex Crook.
The 23-year-old is the latest figure to be linked with a move to Old Trafford as manager Erik ten Hag desperately searches for solutions after kickstarting his tenure with back-to-back defeats.
What is the latest news involving Cunha?
Crook’s employers recently revealed that United are ‘closing in’ on a deal for Cunha, with his current club believed to value him around £42 million.
The Red Devils had previously been credited with an interest in fellow Atletico attacker Alvaro Morata by ESPN, but now it seems as though they have turned their attention to his teammate.
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It’s claimed that while the Rojiblancos are still keen to bring Cristiano Ronaldo back to Madrid, there is no possibility of a swap deal involving the five-time Ballon d’Or winner.
Cunha only joined Atletico only last summer for an initial fee of £22m following an impressive stint in German football with RB Leipzig and Hertha Berlin yet could be on the move once again before September’s deadline.
United have only scored once in their opening 180 minutes of Premier League action and that was thanks to a Alexis Mac Allister own goal.
What has Crook said about Cunha?
With Edinson Cavani departing and Ronaldo’s future firmly up in the air, bringing in a new source of goals appears to be high up on Ten Hag’s wish list.
And Crook has informed GiveMeSport that United have played their hand for Cunha, indicating that ‘they know they need to spend big’ in what remains of the summer window.
He said: “Obviously, a big money bid has gone in. And I think this is just a sign now that they know they need to spend big in the last couple of weeks of the window, or they're going to get left hopelessly behind everyone else.”
Would Cunha be a good signing?
For his previous clubs FC Sion, Hertha and Leipzig, Cunha racked up a combined tally of 32 goals and 21 assists in 124 appearances, earning his move to the Wanda Metropolitano.
The Brazil international, who is capable of playing on either flank as well as through the middle, then registered seven goals and seven assists in 37 outings for Diego Simeone’s charges last term.
However, Cunha’s underlying numbers were arguably even more impressive, highlighting the incredible work ethic that makes him such an appealing prospect.
As per FBref, the 6 foot ace has ranked in the 99th percentile for tackles, 95th for pressures, 93rd for interceptions, and 89th for blocks amongst his positional peers over the last year.
Cunha could be a valuable addition to United's forward line, therefore, easing the transitional period that Ten Hag is attempting to guide the 20-time English champions through.