Manchester United are taking a Matheus Cunha transfer gamble they can't afford to get wrong

Manchester United have identified Matheus Cunha as a top target this summer - but it's a move that brings risk.

The Wolves star brings Premier League pedigree, having scored 16 goals this season in a side that has spent much of the campaign battling against relegation, but could now finish above United in the table.

The Brazil international's quality is clear for all to see, while he's netted 26 times in 54 top-flight starts for Wolves since arriving permanently in 2023. At 25, he is approaching his peak and he arrives already accustomed to Ruben Amorim's system having played as one of the two number 10s at Molineux in the same shape.

Cunha will be available for £62.5million due to a release clause and while that probably represents fair value for a player who is now a Brazil international and has only enhanced his reputation since a £44m move to England from Athletic Madrid two years ago, it still represents a significant fee for United. The Reds have Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) concerns and have a squad in need of a major overhaul.

United also have a dismal record in recruitment over recent seasons and can ill-afford more transfer failings.

The risk with splashing a significant fee on Cunha in a position where United actually have several options in the shape of Bruno Fernandes, Amad Diallo, Alejandro Garnacho, Joshua Zirkee, Kobbie Mainoo and Mason Mount is that other areas of the squad will be neglected.

And while Cunha will most likely be more of a regular goal-scorer than Zirkee or Rasmus Hojlund, he is not a line-leading number nine, raising the prospect of the Dane continuing to spearhead the attack despite his difficult season, or United moving for another prospect up front - such as Liam Delap -