Matheus Cunha’s proposed transfer to Manchester United is now closer than ever, but there were some concerns that emerged during negotiations with Wolves, and one pundit has weighed in on the “rows”
Premier League legend Alan Shearer has raised concerns over what he perceived as “rows” between Manchester United and Wolves surrounding Matheus Cunha‘s proposed move to Old Trafford.
All signs have suggested for some time that the Brazil international is bound for Old Trafford, but there were some bumps in the road earlier this week that could have blocked the transfer.
It’s understood the Red Devils are willing to pay the Wolves forward’s £62.5million release clause to land his signature. However, alarm bells began ringing after Sky Sports reported Vitor Pereira’s side rebuffed United’s proposal to pay the sum in five parts.
Ruben Amorim has long been aware funds would likely be tight this summer. However, the club’s Europa League final defeat to Tottenham tightened the purse strings even further, with United now missing out on European football altogether next term.
The club finds itself in the difficult position of needing to offload certain stars to free up more of a transfer budget. And Newcastle great Shearer worried for their chances of landing Cunha due to these developments, as Wolves made clear they weren’t going to roll over in negotiations.
“Who they sell, I don’t know. If they need to raise funds then they have a couple of options to do that,” Shearer told Betfair. “It looks as if the Cunha deal is going to happen albeit I saw that there’s rows in terms of how payments will be made.”
The deal now appears on again after United agreed to pay the fee in three instalments over two years. Cunha, 26, is now clear to undergo a medical at Carrington in what could end up being United’s biggest deal of 2025.
The former RB Leipzig and Atletico Madrid forward, who scored 33 goals in 92 appearances for Wolves, offers a great deal of versatility in attack. And yet Shearer warned there is plenty of work to be done in renovating the squad before United can challenge for the top six once more.
He continued: “Man United need an overhaul but it won’t happen in one or two transfer windows and that’s why, as a player, you have to think long and hard about needing or wanting to go there because it’s going to take two or three years to get anywhere near the levels to challenge for the top six again.
“If funds are going to be tight due to PSR then their assets in [Alejandro] Garnacho and [Bruno] Fernandes may have to be sold to bring funds in. Nothing surprises me with Man United on or off the field anymore because they’ve been an embarrassment over the last 12 months.”
Cunha himself has suggested a summer move is in the offing after appearing to thank fans for his time at the club. Wolves’ official Instagram account shared a video of their supporters serenading the player following the final game of the season, and Cunha’s reaction in the comments section hinted at his intentions.
“I can’t thank you enough for so much,” wrote Cunha in response. And many have taken that as a form of farewell, hinting his time at Molineux is almost at its end.
Garnacho, 20, is available for sale after falling out with Amorim, who dropped him from the squad that beat Aston Villa on the last day of the season. It’s believed United are hoping to fetch up to £70m for the player, but their bargaining position appears weak.
The club will be much more desperate to keep hold of captain Fernandes, who was linked with the likes of Barcelona and Real Madrid earlier this year, while a switch to Saudi Arabia is most likely at this stage if he is to go.
Meanwhile, United may struggle to drum up interest in many other stars after a record-low 15th-place finish in the Premier League.
2025-05-29 11:31:11
