Man Utd close in on major Premier League transfer target | OneFootball

Man Utd Close In On Cunha Deal Amid Transfer Tension

Cunha Deal “Close” as United Fans Dare to Dream

Manchester United are reportedly close to signing Wolves forward Matheus Cunha, with Mark Goldbridge calling it his “dream signing” in a recent episode of The United Stand Podcast. Citing Simon Jones of the Daily Mail, Goldbridge said: “Manchester United are close to signing Cunha from Wolves,” before acknowledging the familiar timing of such stories, adding, “Bad result yesterday, big signing today… We’ve seen this movie.”

Still, Goldbridge wasn’t brushing the news aside. He insisted, “Don’t play this game with realistic targets that probably do want to come to Man United,” suggesting Cunha is a player that genuinely fits the club’s needs and manager Rúben Amorim’s style.

Simon Jones and Credibility in the Rumour Mill

Much of Goldbridge’s belief in the rumour hinges on its source. “This is probably about one of the only people beyond Ornstein and Romano where I would go, this is interesting,” he said, referencing Simon Jones’ credibility after breaking the Jarrad Branthwaite bid last summer. “If he’s broken this… please let this be true.”

Reiterating the same point later in the show, Goldbridge said: “The only non-Ornstein and Romano transfer that was true was the Branthwaite one, and Simon Jones and Chris Wheeler broke that.”

Why Cunha Fits United’s Needs

Goldbridge was emphatic about Cunha’s potential impact. “He ticks every single box Man United need to tick,” he said. At 25 years old, Cunha is “Premier League proven” and “ready to take that step up.” Goldbridge added, “He knows what it’s like to be in a team where you shoulder the responsibility,” citing his role in keeping Wolves up.

Photo: IMAGO

“He’s aggressive, he’s passionate, and he gives a ****,” said Goldbridge. “This team is crying out for those types of personalities.” He likened Cunha’s mentality to club legends, saying, “I’ve seen the likes of Roy Keane, Paul Ince, Eric Cantona… those personalities fit us like a glove.”

As for where Cunha might fit in, Goldbridge said: “You could play him as a nine… ideally for me he plays behind the striker, next to Amad or Garnacho or Zirkzee.” He compared Cunha to Mousa Dembélé, praising his “strength to hold up the ball and dribble and link the play.”

Newcastle Competition and the Champions League Factor

Despite the optimism, there’s competition from Chelsea and Newcastle. “Newcastle are seen as the main competitors for his signature,” said Goldbridge, “but he looks to have been swayed by the prospect of playing a pivotal role in Man United’s rebuild under Rúben Amorim.”

But there’s a catch. Goldbridge acknowledged the influence of European qualification: “If we don’t win the Europa League, we don’t have Champions League to offer him… Newcastle probably will.” That factor alone could complicate matters significantly.

He summed up the situation frankly: “If Kun doesn’t go to Man United and he goes to Newcastle, well that’s one player that’s just strengthened Newcastle more than us.”