Matheus Cunha speaks on Manchester United move as medical booked for £62.5m transfer | OneFootball

Brazilian forward on his way to Old Trafford after Red Devils agree to Wolves demands over payment structure relating to release clause

Matheus Cunha looks set to undergo a medical at Manchester United imminently after a transfer agreement was reached with Wolves.

The Brazilian forward has been heavily linked with a high-profile move to Old Trafford for several weeks now, with United widely expected to ramp up their pursuit of a player they also wanted in January after the conclusion of the Premier League season.

Reports emerged on Tuesday evening that United had made official contact with Wolves over a deal for Cunha that would see them pay the £62.5million release clause written into a contract extension signed at Molineux in February over an extended period of five seasons.

However, Wolves were said to have rejected that offer, instead insisting that the clause be honoured as per the contract - specifically that it be paid in full over the next two seasons.

Per BBC Sport and others, United have now quickly agreed to those terms and will pay an initial £20.8m for Cunha, followed by a second instalment due at the end of next season and a third expected following the completion of the 2026/27 campaign.

United have been given permission to discuss personal terms with Cunha, who turned 26 on Tuesday and is believed to be very eager to make the move and complete it swiftly.

He is now expected to undergo a medical as United look to clinch their first signing of the summer ahead of the opening of the first of two windows on June 1, which will close on June 10 ahead of the inaugural expanded Club World Cup in the United States, before transfer business then resumes from June 16 until September 1.

Cunha will be the first arrival of a likely squad overhaul at United expected after a wretched season in which they slumped to by far their lowest-ever finish of the Premier League era of 16th and lost to Tottenham - who finished 17th - in the Europa League final in Bilbao.

He follows January arrival Patrick Dorgu as only the club’s second signing under manager Ruben Amorim, who wants to reshape his attack in preparation for next season, when he will be under pressure to make a fast start.

United have also been heavily linked with the likes of Ipswich striker Liam Delap, Brentford forward Bryan Mbeumo and Sporting Lisbon marksman Viktor Gyokeres, with Alejandro Garnacho, Marcus Rashford and Antony all expected to depart, along with the returning Jadon Sancho, captain Bruno Fernandes subject to strong interest from Saudi Arabia and Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee both having endured difficult seasons in front of goal.

Cunha joined Wolves from Atletico Madrid initially on loan in January 2023 and went on to score 33 goals in 92 total appearances across all competitions, including 17 in 36 during an eventful campaign in which he missed six matches through suspension but still helped Wolves to secure Premier League safety under Vitor Pereira after sitting in the relegation zone under predecessor Gary O’Neil.

He began his career in Brazil with Coritiba and moved to Europe with Swiss side FC Sion in 2017 before playing in Germany with both RB Leipzig and Hertha Berlin, joining Atletico in 2021.

“Talking about him is easy, I think he's a great coach and I wish him nothing but the best," Cunha recently told CNN Brasil of Amorim, as per the Daily Mail. “I hope he conquers the world as he did Portugal.”

Asked if they might achieve that together at United, Cunha is said to have replied: “Well, God willing, we'll always do our best to help."