Arsenal may be willing to spend big in the January transfer window, but it looks increasingly unlikely that the money will be used to buy Matheus Cunha.
Cunha stood out for Wolves, scoring ten goals and four assists in the Premier League this season. Although he has mainly played as a number 10 this season, he has also been deployed as a centre-forward.
And a striker is exactly what Arsenal are keen to sign this month. With Gabriel Jesus sidelined for the rest of the season, the Gunners will now rely on Kai Havertz.
Given this desperate need, Arsenal's chiefs are believed to have approved a raft of heavy spending in the final weeks of the window, if they can land one of their top targets:
However, it is clear that Cunha has not been at the top of Mikel Arteta's Janaury wishlist. Wolves also plan to fight tooth and nail to keep the in-demand Brazilian, and it would take a huge bid to tempt them into selling this month.
Nottingham Forest are preparing a potential club record offer, with Chelsea, Manchester United, Newcastle and Tottenham also monitoring developments.
Wolves see Cunha as crucial in their fight for survival and have worked hard to tie him down to a new deal. Club chiefs want to look out the window and keep the player despite him being one of the most talked about potential transfers.
There have been inquiries but the expectation from at least one of the clubs was that Wolves will fight to keep him this month and then look again in the summer.
Meanwhile, Arsenal are ready to give the green light to a move for their top targets, with RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko leading the way. And the Gunners are expected to look to tempt Leipzig into a deal now. Sesko, 21, has a gentleman's deal worth around £60million that will allow him to leave in the summer.
Every club should make an offer to entice them to do business now. Gunners boss Mikel Arteta has made it clear that the club is on the market and that there has been a dialogue with the hierarchy, including Josh Kroenke, to strengthen the squad.
Arteta wanted Sesko last summer, but the Slovenian striker decided to stay for another year. Arsenal have remained in touch, are on the case and are believed to be frontrunners despite growing interest in the striker.
A bigger offer could tempt Leipzig to sell and there is still a feeling that Arsenal are ready to do business. They are reluctant to rush into a deal for an alternative target now, meaning Cunha appears unlikely to be on his way to the Emirates.
Comments