Matheus Cunha is the latest name in the frame as our search for a striker continues, but several other Premier League clubs are also on his case. Among them are Wolverhampton Wanderers, Chelsea, Arsenal and Everton, while Newcastle United, Manchester United and Liverpool have also been mentioned.

We have been close to signing Cunha once before, as the Brazilian could have come to Elland Road in the summer of 2021, only for the player to opt to sign for Athletico Madrid instead. But life in the Spanish capital hasn’t exactly gone the way he planned, with only six goals in the 29 La Liga games he played last season, and his lack of game time in this campaign dashed his hopes of being selected for Brazil’s world cup squad.

Now his current club are keen to get his wages off their books. According to journalist Bruno Andrade they are looking for a fee of around £43m, though they might agree to a loan deal with a view to a permanent transfer later on. The 23 year-old was left out of this week's friendly against Ponferradina, as talks continued over his possible move away from the club.

And despite his disappointing spell in Spain, Victor Orta still has “serious interest” in the striker, according to David Ornstein. He told The Athletic Football Podcast this week that “Leeds United are really keen to sign him.” We’ve already signed a couple of former Jesse Marsch associates, and he and Cunha were together at RB Leipzig, in 2018-19.

But the problem is that we’re by no means the only Premier League club with injury problems in the forward department, and at least three others are circling around in the hope of signing the striker. Wolves were early favourites as they were believed to be offering the highest wages of any of Cunha’s suitors, and he is reported to respect their new head coach Julen Lopetegui. On the other hand, they are bottom of the league.

But more serious competition has emerged in the last 24 hours, with the Evening Standard reporting that Atletico Madrid have offered Chelsea the chance to sign Cunha, along with Joao Felix. They have just lost Armando Broja for the rest of the season due to a serious knee injury, but they are also looking at a few other high-profile targets, including Borussia Dortmund’s Youssoufa Moukoko and Barcelona’s Memphis Depay.

And according to The Athletic, Arsenal are also considering a move for the player, after seeing Gabriel Jesus suffer a serious injury that will require surgery. Other clubs that have been mentioned are Everton, Aston Villa and Manchester United, while the player’s agent has touted him to Newcastle United and Liverpool, according to a report from 90min.

So if Leeds are serious about signing Cunha we need to make our move as soon as the transfer window opens, but it’s likely that the player will prefer to wait and see if an offer comes in from a club that can offer him European football. Leeds scouted him extensively in the summer before last, so if we don’t get him it won’t be for want of trying, but it seems likely that Victor Orta will have to look elsewhere for that elusive striker.

Photo: Action Images

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