‘Departure’: Manager suggests his £45m ace is ‘about to sign’ for Wolves

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Matheus Cunha is ‘about to sign’ for Wolves with the Premier League outfit closing in on the £45 million La Liga striker, Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone tells AS. 

Whether Cunha is the man to add some thrust and some fear-factor to Wolverhampton Wanderers’ goal-shy frontline, only time will tell. No team in England’s top flight has fewer goals so far in 2022/23 than Julen Lopetegui’s toothless side.

But, while Cunha is not the most prolific of forwards, the Brazil international should still represent a clear upgrade on an ageing Diego Costa.

Powerful, quick and boasting a real penchant for the spectacular; the former RB Leipzig youngster has also registered on the radars of Arsenal, Manchester United, Leeds and Everton but looks set to become Lopetegui’s first signing at Molineux instead. 

Wolves are closing in on Atletico Madrid’s Brazil international Matheus Cunha

According to Fabrizio Romano, Cunha should undergo a medical at Wolves this week. The 23-year-old was left out of Atletico’s squad for a recently friendly clash with Ponferradina. And Los Colchoneros boss Simeone is not planning to stand in his way. 

“Cunha is at a point of departure. (He is) almost about to sign with his new club,” Simeone admits.

“He’s a boy who gave us everything he had. We gave him everything we had. And either one was able to contribute the best of each other.”

Cunha only joined Atletico 18 months ago. He has fallen down the pecking order at the Wanda Metropolitano, however, starting just two La Liga games this term. And Lopetegui, before Wolves’ 2-0 Carabao Cup victory over Gillingham, admitted Cunha is ‘close’ to putting pen to paper.

“We will try to improve the team in the January market,” says the former Real Madrid and Spain boss. “Cunha is close.”

Per the BBC, Lopetegui wants around six new signings this winter. A centre-half is also high on the 56-year-old’s radar; Nacho Fernandez, Javi Sanchez, Felipe and David Garcia among those under consideration.