Premier League club to make record bid for Matheus Cunha amid six-way fight for his signature

It has emerged that a Premier League side are ready to make a club-record bid for Wolves forward Matheus Cunha amid interest from the likes of Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea.

Cunha, who has been one of Wolves' standout performers this season with 10 league goals to his name, is said to have reached a verbal agreement with the club over a new contract.

But it appears more concrete talks around a deal have stalled, according to Fabrizio Romano, who recently described the situation as "strange" and "one to watch" in the final days of the January window.

“It’s a strange situation, because they [Wolves] had a verbal agreement in place with the player, then they were waiting to exchange all the documents, prepare the contracts and sign the new deal," said Romano.

"Then something changed. There was still no agreement on some details of this new contract when they started exchanging all the documents, so some conditions changed."

Romano added: “Also, the words from Vitor Pereira after the Chelsea game were quite strong, on the body language of the player. So, the situation is not the same as two or three weeks ago between Matheus Cunha and Wolves."

A host of Premier League clubs have been linked with a move for Cunha in recent weeks, including Manchester United and Arsenal, who are currently in the market for a forward player following an ACL injury to Gabriel Jesus.

At the stage, however, it looks like Nottingham Forest will be the first to make a move after it emerged that they are 'ready to make a club-record offer' for the in-form Brazilian.

That's according to Sky reporter Kaveh Solhekol, who confirmed Forest's intentions on Wednesday afternoon.

"Forest are one of five Premier League clubs, including Arsenal, who are interested in signing the player," he said on Sky Sports News. "My understanding of the situation is that an offer worth around £60 million could be enough to tempt Wolves to sell.

"Wolves position is that he is not for sale. They would like him to sign a new contract. We are being told he is unlikely to sign a new deal."

Cunha has 10 Premier League goals so far this season. Image: Getty

Solhekol added: "I also get the sense that the player has been put out by the comments his manager, Vitor Pereira, made about him after the defeat to Chelsea on Monday night."

Speaking after Wolves' 3-1 defeat to Chelsea on Monday, the Wolves manager expressed his dissatisfaction with Cunha's body language.

"He's a captain. He can be frustrated as he wants to win but everyone in the dressing room wants to win. I don't like his body language," he said. "I understand it now, I won't understand it next time."

Pereira added: "He is committed to Wolves but in your life when you start to listen that other clubs [are interested]... he's human and it's normal in football."

So far, six clubs have been linked with a move for Cunha – Arsenal, Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea, Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest.