EXCLUSIVE: Arsenal agree Cunha terms but gap in valuation remains

Steve Kay

Updated: 21 Jan 2025 16:23 GMT
4 min read

FootballTransfers understands that personal terms are not an issue in Arsenal's pursuit of Matheus Cunha.

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The Gunners are scouring the striker market for potential January opportunities and the versatile Wolves forward is one of the names under serious consideration.

Cunha is currently in a contract standoff with his club and this has prompted Arsenal to reignite their long-standing interest in the Brazilian.

Contact with his representatives has been made and numerous sources with knowledge of the situation have confirmed to FootballTransfers that personal terms are not an issue with Cunha.

However, a significant stumbling block remains. Arsenal and Wolves are markedly apart in their valuation of the 25-year-old. Vitor Pereira's side would only consider a January sale for a fee in excess of £70 million (€82m).

Arsenal, meanwhile, are not prepared to pay more than around £45m (€53m) for a player who is not considered a top priority target unlike, for example, Benjamin Sesko.

Cunha affected by Arsenal's interest?

Arsenal's interest in Cunha is no secret and the player appears to have had his head turned by the approaches he has received from suitors in recent months.

In December, Cunha made headlines when he 'liked' an Instagram comment that read 'Man Utd soon,' which came at a time of persistent links with a move to Old Trafford.

On Monday, the Brazilian came under fire by the press and even his own coach for his 'poor body language' in the 3-1 loss against Chelsea, which prompted an angry response from the striker.

Journalist Liam Keen posted on X that Cunha had gone straight down the tunnel following the final whistle, to which the striker replied: "Liar. I went to applaud [the fans], congratulated the referees and the opposing players. Then I went to the tunnel. Don't ever come and ask me to give you an interview again."

Coach Pereira appeared to agree that Cunha's head hadn't been entirely in the game when speaking to the media afterwards. Quizzed on the effects of the January interest, Pereira said: "It's human that the players start to be a little bit… it's normal in football."

However, he struck a less empathetic tone when discussing Cunha's body language. "I had this conversation in the dressing room. He can be frustrated because he wants to win, but everybody in the team wants to win.

"I don't like this body language. I want someone as a captain trying to help the team – running, suffering, fighting together. This is something I can understand. Next time, I will not understand. This is something that cannot happen again."