Wolverhampton Wanderers have reportedly agreed a new deal for Matheus Cunha, amid transfer interest from Arsenal in the last few weeks.
Fabrizio Romano reports that Wolves have agreed a new contract for Matheus Cunha. Romano suggested a verbal agreement is in place for an extension and an improved salary, with the player to sign as soon as the official documents are checked and approved.
John Percy writes for the print edition of The Telegraph on Monday that Cunha is indeed close to signing his new contract, with official confirmation to come in the next couple of weeks.
Percy adds that the new deal may include a release clause, but that would become active only if Wolves are relegated. It certainly wouldn’t apply in the January window.
Romano mentions that there was transfer interest from several clubs, and Percy specifically references Arsenal as one of those clubs, but Wolves were reportedly never concerned about a January exit. They’ve been close to a new deal for a while, and it’s now on the verge of completion.
“I hope he stays with us for a long time, but I understand that as a special player – he will have opportunities for sure in his career,” Wolves boss Vitor Pereira said recently.
“It is not only about his technique, but his personality. He is special because he can take the ball in a moment of pressure and make magic from nothing.
“Of course, I do not want him to be sold in January.”
Mike McGrath of The Telegraph and James McNicholas of The Athletic were among those to initially suggest that Arsenal were interested in Cunha, with that interest pre-dating recent injuries to Bukayo Saka and Raheem Sterling.
But both sources agreed that with Wolves fighting relegation, they were extremely reluctant to let such a key player leave in the winter window.
A January move was never really on the cards, and certainly not now. But with the prospect of a summer release clause in case of relegation, Arsenal will be watching closely to see if 17th-placed Wolves stay up.