Wolves manager Vitor Pereira says Matheus Cunha never requested a move and will not be sold this month amid reports linking his top scorer to Arsenal and Nottingham Forest.
Striker Cunha, who has 10 goals and four assists in 21 Premier League appearances this season, was criticized by Pereira for his body language After his side 3-1 defeat at Chelsea Monday, while Sky Sports has been among the outlets to claim the Brazil international is wanted by the Gunners and Forest, adding that the 25-year-old has four top-flight suitors.
“We had a conversation,” said Pereira, who will host Arsenal on Saturday (3 p.m. GMT). “He is ready for the game, very engaged with us and ready to help the team.
“He never asked me [if he could] Leave the club. He wants to be with us to try to win the match. He’s my player; I think it’s not for sale, this is club information. »
Statistics of Matheus Cunha
Cunha joined Wolves on loan from Atletico Madrid in December 2022 and cost £44m under their obligation to buy him at the end of the 2022/23 season.
The former Hertha Berlin and Leipzig hotshot provided 14 goals and eight assists in 36 appearances in her first full campaign and has continued her prolific form this season, including two goals and an assist in Pereira’s first two games in charge after his appointment on December 19.
Those matches ended in wins over Leicester City and Manchester United, but Wolves have taken one point from four games since, hampered by injury and a one-match suspension for Cunha.
Forest, arsenal linked to Cunha
Forest were preparing a higher bid than the club record £35 million they paid Newcastle for midfielder Elliot Anderson in July, while Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said on Friday that he actively pursued attack objectives.
“He knows what I want from him as captain,” Pereira said of Cunha, who is out of contract in 2027, describing keeping him at the club as “very important”. “What we need is for him to play at his high level and be committed to the team.”
Wolves are above third-placed Ipswich Town on goal difference and four points behind fifth-placed Everton ahead of their trip to the Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal placed second are 28 points above Wanderers and six shy of leaders Liverpool, who have a game in hand and an eight-goal advantage.
Wolves have scored two goals in defeats in the last seven editions of the match, the last victory when they made it a double over Arsenal in 2020/21.
