Arsenal have now been credited with an interest in one Premier League attacker, but will face competition for his signature.
Mikel Arteta is eager to bolster his attacking contingent at Arsenal this summer.
The Gunners have been linked with a number of forwards already since the end of the season. Arsenal pushed hard to sign Benjamin Sesko, but missed out on the Slovenian as he opted to stay with RB Leipzig.
Arsenal are also said to be working on a deal for Viktor Gyokeres, but it remains to be seen if the North London club will be able to get that transfer over the line. In any case, Arteta and sporting director Edu will have alternative targets under consideration.
One of these targets could see Arsenal go toe-to-toe with Manchester United in a race to get the deal done.
Arsenal join Manchester United in race to sign Matheus Cunha
According to Caught Offside, both Arsenal and the Red Devils are keen to strike a £64 million deal to sign Wolves forward Matheus Cunha.
However, as things stand, as Manchester United have already held talks with the player’s agent it could be that they are in a more promising position to secure his services.
On top of that, the aforementioned price tag that the Midlands outfit have put on the 11-cap Brazil international could also put the Gunners off.
There is no doubting that the 25-year-old is a supremely talented player. He was in fine form for Wolves last season, as he notched up 14 goals and 8 assists in 36 appearances, across all competitions.
He is a powerful physical presence at the top of the pitch, who offers clinical finishing, intelligent movement, and real pace. Arteta will also be attracted to his versatility. Cunha can operate both centrally or on either flank, meaning that he would provide competition and cover for the likes of Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli, as well as striker Kai Havertz.
Should Arsenal prioritise Viktor Gyokeres over Cunha?
That being said, there may still be better options on the market for Arsenal to pursue, especially at that price point – which could easily rise further still if the Gunners are drawn into a bidding war with Manchester United.
Gyokeres represents a more prolific option, albeit he is yet to prove himself at Premier League level. The Sweden international scored 43 times for Portuguese champions Sporting last season, and would likely represent a more exciting addition to Arteta’s ranks.
However, it remains to be seen which of the two strikers the Spanish coach is willing to make a more concerted effort to sign this summer.