Matheus Cunha to Arsenal latest with Gunners prepared to spend BIG on forward in January
Arsenal are desperate to sign a new striker this month following Gabriel Jesus' injury, with club chiefs now sanctioning a major spending spree for the final weeks of the window
by John Cross, Jacob Leeks · The MirrorArsenal may be prepared to spend big in the January transfer window, but it looks increasingly unlikely that money will be used to buy Matheus Cunha.
Cunha has caught the eye at Wolves, scoring 10 goals and notching four assists in the Premier League this term. Though he has mainly played as a No.10 this term, he has also been deployed at centre-forward.
And a striker is exactly what Arsenal are desperate to sign in this month's transfer window. With Gabriel Jesus sidelined for the rest of the season, the Gunners are now relying on Kai Havertz up-front.
Given that desperate need, Arsenal chiefs are understood to have sanctioned a spree of heavy spending in the final weeks of the window, if they can land one of their primary targets,
However, it is understood that Cunha has not been at the top of Mikel Arteta's Janaury wishlist. Wolves are also planning to fight tooth and nail in order to keep the in-demand Brazilian and it would take a huge offer to tempt them to sell this month.
Nottingham Forest are lining up a potential club-record offer, with Chelsea, Manchester United, Newcastle and Tottenham also believed to be watching developments.
Wolves see Cunha as being crucial to to their fight for survival and have been working hard to tie him down to a new deal. Club chiefs want to see out the window and keep the player despite him being one of the most talked-about potential transfers.
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There have been enquiries but the expectation from at least one of the clubs was that Wolves will fight to keep him this month and then look again in the summer.
Meanwhile, Arsenal are ready to green light a transfer for their top targets with RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko leading the way. And the Gunners are expected to see if they can tempt Leipzig into a deal now. Sesko, 21, has a gentleman’s agreement of around £60m which would allow him to leave in the summer.
Any club would have to make an offer to tempt them to do business now. Gunners boss Mikel Arteta has spelt out that the club are in the market and there has been dialogue with the hierarchy, including Josh Kroenke to bolster the squad.
Arteta wanted Sesko last summer but the Slovenian striker decided to stay put for one more year. Arsenal have remained in touch, are on the case and are believed to be front-runners despite growing interest in the striker.
A bigger offer may tempt Leipzig into selling and there is still a feeling that Arsenal are ready to do business. They are reluctant to rush into a deal now for an altenative target, meaning Cunha looks unlikely to be on his way to the Emirates.
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