Manchester United could swoop for Cunha to bolster their striking options this summer

A number of British media outlets have recently reported that Brazilian striker Mateusz Cunha is keen on Manchester United and is ready to join the Premier League giants this summer.

Cunha is looking to turn his career around at the end of the season. His transfer fee is in the region of £62.5 million. Should United decide to sell one or more of Rashford, Sancho or Anthony in the summer transfer window, they could look to bring in the Brazilian to bolster their attack.

United boss Ruben Amorim is particularly interested in Cunha because of his knowledge of, and specialisation in, the 3-4-2-1 tactical formation. At the heart of this formation are two ‘front men’ behind the strikers to help organise the attack. It’s a tactic that United use a lot these days, with Garnacho and Bruno Fernandes supporting Hoylund. If Cunha were to join United, he would be able to adapt quickly to the team’s tactical requirements and wouldn’t need much time to settle in.

To put it bluntly, Cunha is more suited to this style of play than some of the players in United’s squad. Although United already have a number of players who play in this style, many of them are still struggling to get used to it and are often seen running around in a confused position and not working well together.

Cunha was brought in not only for his tactical ability, but more importantly for his attacking prowess. So far this season, he has scored 14 Premier League goals and provided 4 assists.

His tally puts him on a par with Chelsea’s Cole Palmer and not far behind Brentford’s Vissar (14 goals) and Mbemo (16 goals). By contrast, United’s three strikers – Ganacho, Zylkiser and Hoylund – have scored just 11 goals between them. The addition of Cunha is expected to immediately improve United’s attacking threat and solve their lack of goals from the front line.

Kurnia’s other great asset is his versatility. He can play as a centre-forward, a winger or a striker. That kind of flexibility is very useful for coaches, especially as United are often plagued by injuries and a lack of depth in their squad, so having a player who can play in a number of different positions makes tactical options more flexible.

Cunha’s ability to distribute the ball is also one of his strengths. The number of times he has broken through with the ball in the attacking third is among the highest in the Premier League, with only Iwobi, Gwaldior and Doku surpassing him. This shows that he can be a threat in key areas and create chances for his teammates.

All in all, these are the reasons why United should look at Cunha. Not only can he improve the team’s attacking efficiency, but he can also add to the team’s goal tally. Of course, there are a number of issues that need to be taken into consideration if he is to be brought in, such as his ability to work with other players, his attitude to the game and whether or not he is worth the large fee. But one thing is certain: United manager Ruben Amorim will be looking to bolster his side’s attacking options this summer, and Cunha is one of the players he can focus on.