Manchester United are leading the race to sign Matheus Cunha after an impressive season for Wolves that has seen him score 15 goals in the Premier League - helping Vitor Pereira's men avoid relegation
Matheus Cunha wants to join Manchester United - regardless of whether they are in Europe or not next season. Ruben Amorim's side are closing in on a move for the Brazilian to join on a permanent move in the summer.
Cunha signed a new deal with Wolves at the start of February, featuring a £62million release clause, after his agent failed to land a move in January. Cunha has enjoyed a superb season with Wolves to help them avoid relegation, scoring 15 times in the Premier League. That has included three goals and two assists in his last six games.
There are a number of teams who were credited with an interest in the 25-year-old in January, including Arsenal and Nottingham Forest, but United are now firmly at the front of the queue and are edging closer to sealing his transfer.
United and Cunha have agreed all but the finer details on a package to take him to Old Trafford. The question is how and what exactly they will pay Wolves, with an agreement there not yet in place.
United aren't expected to pay his full release clause up front, as per his contract, and are, it's understood, looking to negotiate a deal to pay a higher eventual figure, over a number of years.
Amorim's men still don't know whether they will play in Europe next season as they prepare for their Europa League final against Tottenham on Wednesday night.
Should United beat Ange Postecoglou's side, they will immediately qualify for next season's Champions League, despite their lowly position of 16th in the Premier League table. But defeat will leave them without any European football whatsoever.
Cunha's interest in joining United before their fate is confirmed certainly shows he is invested in the club and their future. It also displays the pull United have as a club in spite of their current woes on the pitch and financial difficulties under Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who is undergoing a significant cost-cutting regime at Old Trafford.
Cunha made it clear he sees himself moving away from Molineux in the future after saying he wanted to "take the next step" in his career.
He said earlier this year: "I had a lot of offers but I wouldn't feel well if I had done it. Some things you can't control but I couldn't leave the club in the middle of the season, in a difficult situation, in the relegation zone. Now, we're close to achieving our goal [of staying up]. But I've made it clear that I need to take the next step. I want to fight for titles, for big things. I have potential."
Asked if Cunha wants to remain at Molineux on Monday, Wolves boss Vitor Pereira said: "You must ask him, but I feel he is happy.
"I just know he is my player, he is committed with the team, he is working with happiness and we will see what happens."
United chief Amorim has already been asked about the prospect of signing Cunha but refused to wade into the topic. He said: “I will not say nothing about Matheus, because if I say I have to say 'yes' or 'no' and not comment on that.
"We have to focus on this season and the way we prepare for next season could change in these games, so it's difficult to predict what can happen in the future."