Transfer rumors, news: Arsenal eyeing Wolves' Matheus Cunha ...
ESPN
Dec 27, 2024, 11:00 AM ET
Arsenal are interested in Wolves forward Matheus Cunha, while Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Vitinha is on the radar of Real Madrid. Join us for the latest transfer news, rumors and gossip from around the globe.
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TRENDING RUMORS- Arsenal are interested in Wolverhampton Wanderers forward Matheus Cunha, reports The Telegraph. The Gunners are looking for reinforcements following injuries to Bukayo Saka and Raheem Sterling, but it would be difficult to persuade Wolves to let the 25-year-old leave considering how vital he is to their hopes of Premier League survival.
- Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Vitinha is on the radar of Real Madrid, says AS. The 24-year-old has established himself as a key figure in Paris since arriving for €40m from FC Porto in 2022, with three goals from 20 games this season, but Madrid are monitoring his progress. The LaLiga giants also have Real Sociedad's Martín Zubimendi on their midfield shortlist.
- The agent of Barcelona midfielder Dani Olmo is in Manchester, says The Daily Mail. Olmo, 26, only signed for the club for €60m in the summer but his registration to play in LaLiga runs out on Dec. 31 and a source told ESPN that Barça remain around €60m in excess of their spending limit so they can't re-register him without raising more funds. Manchester United and Manchester City could take advantage by landing him on a free transfer, though his agent Andy Bara is reported to be in England on holiday rather than on business.
- Manchester City, Atlético Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Inter Milan and Newcastle United are among the clubs interested in Monaco winger Maghnes Akliouche, says Caught Offside. The 22-year-old has four goals and five assists from 21 games so far this season and his performances have caught the eye of some of Europe's top clubs. Monaco could reportedly let him go for a fee of around €60m.
- Clubs from Major League Soccer are looking at a deal to sign former Crystal Palace and Man United winger Wilfried Zaha, says The Daily Mail. The 32-year-old moved to Galatasaray from Palace in 2023, but struggled to assert himself and was sent on loan to Lyon in the summer. Due to FIFA rules, a player can't play for three clubs in a single season but MLS could be an option as their 2025 campaign runs from February to November.
EXPERT TAKEESPN Senior Writer James Olley looks at Arsenal's reported interest in Wolves' Matheus Cunha.
Any deal for Cunha is unlikely in the January window unless one of the several interested clubs offers a huge sum next month. There is an expectation that Cunha will leave Wolves next summer, but parting with a key player in the middle of a relegation fight just after appointing a new manager would be a bitter pill for the Midlands club to take.
Arsenal's view ever since being knocked out of the Champions League by Bayern Munich last season is that they need another dynamic attacking player -- though not necessarily an out-and-out No. 9 striker -- to bolster their options. They looked at strikers last summer but opted against making a move when key target Benjamin Šeško opted to sign a new contract with RB Leipzig. He remains of interest, as the club are still in contact with his advisors, but a more versatile alternative would be Cunha, someone who can play out wide or through the middle if required.
If Arsenal have lost a little creativity this season -- even before Bukayo Saka's hamstring injury ruled out him for a number of weeks -- then Cunha's pace and intelligence would be a useful addition in the final third. Arsenal's main threat has long come down the right-hand side with Martin Ødegaard and Saka combining. Cunha has proved adept off the left and some will view him as a potential upgrade on Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard, neither of whom have kicked on this season.
OTHER RUMORS- Manchester United want a fee of £50m from any club looking to sign out-of-favour forward Marcus Rashford in January. (Caught Offside)
- Pep Guardiola and the Manchester City board will discuss new signings for the January transfer window this week. (The Guardian)
- Frenkie de Jong's agent is reported to be "sounding out" the Saudi market, which is the first sign of acceptance that the midfielder's long-term future may lie away from Barcelona. (AS)
- Manchester United and Liverpool are keen on signing Bayern Munich left-back Alphonso Davies if he chooses to move to the Premier League on a free transfer this summer. (TBR)
- Cruzeiro CEO Alexandre Mattos has revealed the conditions required to sign 38-year-old former Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos, who is a free agent. "What we have information on is that there are doubts as to whether he wants to leave Europe and come to South America," he said. "He's a great player, but we'll have to wait. If he came for a year, within Cruzeiro's financial conditions, he would come. If he came, it would be in a very favourable financial condition for him. Today, Cruzeiro is an attraction for any athlete in the world. But we have to know his desire to cross the ocean." (ESPN Brasil)
- Agent Jorge Mendes has commented on the possibility of his client, Benfica centre-back António Silva, joining Juventus. "Juventus wants António Silva and António Silva wants to sign with Juventus," he said. "Benfica has the final say, they will have to make a decision and therefore need to be a little patient. We'll see what happens. António Silva would certainly love to go to Juve. The timing? The market is still closed, we'll see. He's a very important player, he has great quality and he's been followed by the most important clubs in the world." (Sky Sports Italia)
- Mendes also confirmed that Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal will sign new deal, saying "Lamine must stay at Barcelona. I can't say when, but it will definitely happen." (Fabrizio Romano)
- AC Milan and two Premier League clubs are interested in Torino midfielder Samuele Ricci. Ricci's contract with Torino ends in 2026 and there has not yet been an agreement reached to extend that deal, as Empoli will receive 10% of any fee earned if the 23-year-old departs. (Nicolo Schira)
- Internazionale could look to sign a striker in the summer due to the expected departures of Joaquín Correa and Marko Arnautovic and are looking at Bologna's Santiago Castro. Juventus are among the big clubs who will offer competition to sign the 20-year-old, who has impressed with 11 goal contributions in 22 matches across all competitions this term. (Calciomercato)
- Nicolò Fagioli will leave Juventus in January and Napoli have overtaken Marseille in their efforts to sign the midfielder for around €20m-€25m. (Gazzetta dello Sport)
- Tottenham Hotspur are eyeing a move to sign AC Milan's 17-year-old sensation Mattia Liberali as a back-up to James Maddison. (Milan Live)
- Saudi Arabian side Al Nassr could make a €10m-€15m offer to Lille to sign striker Jonathan David, who is out of contract in the summer. (Ekrem Konur)
- Pachuca are close to finalising the exit of 24-year-old Colombian midfielder Nelson Deossa to Rayados de Monterrey. (ESPN Deportes)