Andrea Berta identifies £60m-rated Premier League star as Arsenal transfer target

Incoming Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta is reportedly keen on signing Matheus Cunha for a second time, having overseen his Atletico Madrid arrival in 2021.

The Gunners were tenuously linked with Cunha in January and could reignite their supposed interest this summer with Berta soon starting work in north London.

Arsenal will focus on rejuvenating their midfield and attack ahead of the 2025/26 season, with multiple additions to the frontline expected. The signing of Cunha was one I had reservations over at the start of the year, but it's pretty clear that Mikel Arteta merely requires superior talent in attack even if there are questions over the player's tactical fit.

Matheus Cunha returns to Arsenal's transfer shortlist for summer

Cunha to Arsenal never got off the ground in January and the player eventually extended his contract at Wolves. However, it's believed that a release clause worth around £60m has been placed in Cunha's new deal.

According to TEAMtalk, the Gunners are admirers of Cunha and could move for the Brazilian this summer. While the forward didn't work out under Diego Simeone at Atleti, Berta believes that the forward would be a 'strong fit' for Arsenal.

Cunha has dazzled in the Premier League at Molineux, following up a 12-goal campaign last season with 13 strikes this term which have helped Wolves veer away from the drop zone. He's a wonderful footballer with a few disciplinary issues, and, admittedly, he doesn't strike me as a Mikel Arteta-type of player.

Moreover, the same report focuses on Arsenal's continued interest in Athletic Club winger Nico Williams. The north Londoners have been associated with Williams in transfer rumour mills for quite some time, and the Spaniard is bound to emerge as a protagonist this summer having burst into life during the second half of the season. The Euro 2024 star has a release clause worth just under £50m, but his high salary at Athletic (£170,000-a-week) means any deal for the young winger would require significant financial outlay.

Barcelona and Bayern Munich are also keen on signing Williams.

Despite the widespread interest, there's no guarantee Williams will leave Bilbao this summer. The 22-year-old, explaining his rebuffal of previous admirers in a March interview, laid down his love for Athletic Club, telling France Football (via Goal): “This relationship we have at the heart of the club is incredible. Everyone respects everyone else, which is incredible.

"This atmosphere, I’ll never have it anywhere else. I decided to stay because of that. I took the decision I thought was the right one. I’m happy, and I’m trying to do my best."

Williams, for me, would be the realistic dream signing out wide for Arsenal, but there's no doubting that Cunha would be an easier deal to pull off if they want to go down that route.

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