Wolves manager Vitor Pereira says Matheus Cunha has never asked for a move and will not be sold this month amid reports linking his top scorer with Arsenal and Nottingham Forest.
Forward Cunha, who has 10 goals and four assists in 21 Premier League appearances this season, was criticised by Pereira for his body language after his side’s 3-1 defeat at Chelsea on Monday, while Sky Sports has been among the outlets to claim the Brazil international is wanted by the Gunners and Forest, adding that the 25-year-old has four top-flight suitors.
“We had a conversation,” said Pereira, whose side host Arsenal on Saturday (3pm GMT). “He’s ready for the game, very committed with us and ready to help the team.
“He never asked me [if he could] leave the club. He wants to be with us to try to win the game. He’s my player; I think he’s not for sale, this is the information from the club.”
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Matheus Cunha stats
Cunha first joined Wolves on loan from Atletico Madrid in December 2022 and cost £44 million under their obligation to buy him at the end of the 2022/23 season.
The former Hertha Berlin and Leipzig hotshot provided 14 goals and eight assists in 36 appearances in his first full campaign and has continued his prolific form this season, including two goals and an assist in Pereira’s first two games in charge following his appointment on December 19.
Those games ended in victories against Leicester City and Manchester United, but Wolves have taken one point from four matches since, hindered by an injury and one-game suspension for Cunha.
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Forest, Arsenal linked with Cunha
Forest are said to be preparing a bid higher than the club-record £35m they paid Newcastle for midfielder Elliot Anderson in July, while Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said on Friday that he is actively pursuing attacking targets.
“He knows what I want from him as a captain,” Pereira said of Cunha, who is out of contract in 2027, describing keeping him at the club as “very important”. “What we need from him is that he plays at his high level and is committed to the team.”
Wolves are above third-bottom Ipswich Town on goal difference and four points behind fifth-bottom Everton ahead of their trip to Emirates Stadium.
Second-placed Arsenal are 28 points above Wanderers and six shy of leaders Liverpool, who have a game in hand and an eight-goal superiority.
Wolves have scored two goals across defeats in the last seven editions of the fixture, last winning when they did a double over Arsenal in 2020/21.
