Arsenal joined by Chelsea and two other Premier League clubs in Cunha transfer race
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Arsenal have been joined by Chelsea and two other Premier League clubs in the race to sign Matheus Cunha before the January transfer window closes.
The Brazil international forward has scored 10 goals this season having scored 14 in all competitions in his debut campaign following a £44million move from Atletico Madrid.
Cunha had appeared likely to commit his future to Wolves earlier this month having been close to signing a new deal but negotiations have stalled amid interest from elsewhere.
Speculation surrounding the 25-year-old’s future intensified on Monday night when he was admonished by his manager, Vitor Pereira, who was unhappy with his body language during the defeat at Stamford Bridge.
'I had this conversation in the dressing room,' Pereira said. '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.'
While a contract extension remains unsigned and with the relationship between club and manager now strained, there is now every chance Cunha could leave Molineux in the coming week, according to Fabrizio Romano.
Arsenal’s need for attacking reinforcements has been well documented and the Gunners have been long-term admirers of the 25-year-old.
The Gunners had been scouring the European loan market for reinforcements but the season ending injury sustained by Gabriel Jesus has radically changed the picture.
Mikel Artea’s primary target Benjamin Sesko is likely to remain at RB Leipzig until the end of the season which has prompted Arsenal to step up their interest in Cunha.
Asked if was enjoying seeing Arsenal linked to a new forward seemingly every day over the past fortnight, Arteta said yesterday: ‘I love it!.
‘I understand it happens. In the summer I had a lot of people texting me saying: 'you're after him?' and sometimes I don’t even know what they're talking about.
‘I don't follow that too much, I have enough work to do and we've got a lot of things on so I don't get too distracted by it.’
Arsenal will not have it all their own way, however, with Chelsea now in the running to sign a player who is capable of playing in a number of positions across the forward line.
Despite enjoying an impressive purple patch earlier in the campaign, doubts remain over whether Nicolas Jackson is the right man to spearhead Enzo Maresca’s attack and be regarded as the club’s No.1 striker.
Joao Felix returned to west London in the summer but has hardly been used in the Premier League and is in talks to join AC Milan on loan, while Christopher Nkunku is keen on a move to Bayern Munich.
Should both players leave in the next 10 days, Chelsea would be short of attacking options and could move for Cunha to plug the gaps in their attack.
High-flying Nottingham Forest, meanwhile, are also, according to MailSport, considering a bid with their £22m offer for Brentford’s Yoane Wissa likely to be dismissed out of hand.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s men are currently third in the table, level on points with second place Arsenal, but want to provide competition and cover for top scorer Chris Wood.
Spurs, too, are also said to be keeping tabs on Cunha’s situation but the struggling north London club are considered as outsiders in a transfer chase that is hotting up.
