Arsenal may have received a significant blow in their pursuit of one of Mikel Arteta’s primary transfer targets in the January market.
The Gunners have vowed to add an attacking reinforcement to their ranks this January after struggling to score a sufficient number of goals in recent matches.
Kai Havertz looks exhausted as Arteta’s only senior number nine, and thus it’s imperative that an addition is made before February 3rd’s deadline.
A plethora of strikers and wingers have been linked with a switch to N5, although few concrete developments have emerged with regard to Arsenal’s attempts to enact a deal.
Nottingham Forest to make record offer for Arsenal target Matheus Cunha
Arteta has tended to favour recruiting from the Premier League, and it appears that the Spaniard is keen on sticking with this strategy this month.
Arsenal are targeting Matheus Cunha, with Fabrizio Romano revealing on Tuesday morning that the Brazilian’s potential Wolves departure is ‘one to watch’.
Cunha is enjoying a fine season with the West Midlands outfit, netting ten Premier League goals thus far this campaign.
This form has prompted interest from several clubs in the English top flight, and high-flyers Nottingham Forest are understood to be among those monitoring the 25-year-old’s situation.
According to Sky Sports, Forest are prepared to make a club-record offer for Cunha.
The East Midlanders are eager to capitalise on their strong position in the league by further bolstering their squad, and they believe Cunha could be the man to do so.
Sky suggests that Wolves aren’t willing to sell their talisman, although an offer worth in the region of £60 million could seduce them to consider sanctioning his departure.
It remains to be seen what Forest’s prospective offer will look like, although their current record addition is Elliott Anderson, who they signed from Newcastle United last summer for £34.8 million.
Arsenal will hope that Forest’s proposal falls way below Wolves’ valuation of Cunha, and it may provoke the North London club to make their own move for the player.
Cunha shares an agent with Gabriel Magalhaes, which could ultimately give them an advantage in the race to land the talented forward’s siganture.
- READ MORE: Arsenal have finally made ‘contact’ to sign long-term Mikel Arteta transfer target – he’s a striker
Arsenal should use Cunha out wide if they sign him
While there’s a long way to go before the Cunha situation is settled, Arsenal must kick into action if they want to fend off interest from Forest and elsewhere.
The Gunners should be capable of beating Nuno Espirito Santo’s side to the Brazil international, although they need to be willing to stump up the significant fee Wolves are demanding.
If Cunha is added to Arteta’s squad, then the Spaniard ought to utilise him out wide.
The Wolves star’s biggest asset is driving with the ball, which can be best utilised in wide areas, while he doesn’t enjoy camping himself inside the opposition box and waiting for chances.
Cunha prefers to roam and pick the ball up from deep before unleashing pile drivers from distance, so restricting him to being an out-and-out striker would certainly not maximise his strengths.
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