Nottingham Forest preparing club-record transfer bid for £62m Arsenal and Chelsea target

03/22/2025 07:44 AM

Nottingham Forest will attempt to blow the likes of Arsenal and Chelsea out of the water with a club-record transfer offer to sign Wolves sensation Matheus Cunha.

Cunha has established himself as one of the most sought-after attacking talents in Premier League football since completing a move to from Atletico Madrid to Molineux, initially on loan, in 2023.

The 25-year-old Brazilian has already enjoyed his best-ever season in front of goal this term, racking up 13 goals in the English top flight, while chipping in with four assists.

Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United were all credited with a strong interest in Cunha throughout the January transfer window, with uncertainty growing over the forward’s future.

But Cunha went on to put pen to paper on a new long-term contract with the Midlands outfit, tying him to the club until 2029.

However, a release clause of £62million was inserted in Cunha’s new deal and Wolves have grown increasingly resigned to losing the Brazil international, with a bidding war expected when the summer transfer window opens for business.

According to talkSPORT, Forest made initial enquiries over the winter and are prepared to make Cunha the most expensive signing in the club’s history should they secure Champions League qualification.

Elliott Anderson currently holds the record following his £35m switch from Newcastle to the City Ground eight months ago.

Chris Wood has enjoyed a remarkable campaign in front of goal, netting 18 times in the Premier League, and Forest are eager to bring in added support for the New Zealander for next season.

Arsenal have long been linked with Cunha and the north London giants were weighing up a January move for the former Atleti attacker following a season-ending injury to his fellow countryman Gabriel Jesus.

Mikel Arteta is believed to have some concerns over Cunha’s character, though, with Wolves’ top scorer attracting some unwanted attention for his hotheadedness numerous times in recent months.

It was confirmed on Friday that Cunha had been slapped with an additional one-match suspension – and a £50,000 fine – by the FA following his sending off in Wolves’ FA Cup defeat to Bournemouth earlier this month.

Cunha, who appeared to headbutt Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez, had already missed Wolves’ games with Everton and Southampton and Vitor Pereira will be without his star man for the side’s upcoming encounters against West Ham and Ipswich.

In December, Cunha was banned for two matches and fined £80,000 fine after being involved in an altercation with a member of Ipswich’s security team.

'I never think about leaving, honestly,’ Cunha told the BBC when asked about his future last month.

'I know I have a lot of things to do already and I always said that this was the club that gave me the chance to come back.

'I had good days in Atletico, but after there was a lot of doubt inside of me. I had a lot of things to prove and they opened the door for me.

'I always felt I wanted to give back everything so to leave in this type of situation is hard.'

Cunha added: 'It would not be appropriate to say I don't want to play for something more.

'It's like every single job in the world, everyone wants to take the next step but I hope I let the hands of god control my life.

'Right now I am so happy to be here. I hope to continue doing good things.'

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