Matheus Cunha shines for Brazil at Olympics amid Leeds United transfer talk
Leeds United will be drooling over the form of Matheus Cunha at the Olympics with the Hertha Berlin forward impressing again for Brazil yesterday.
Cunha, 22, grabbed the match-winning goal for Brazil’s Olympic team as they booked their spot in the semi-finals with a 1-0 win over Egypt.
He’s now found the back of the net in back-to-back games, scoring against Saudi Arabia in the quarter-finals before his 37th-minute winner over Egypt on Saturday.
Leeds have been linked with a move for Cunha this summer with Sky Sports Italy journalist Fabrizio Romano suggesting on Twitch in July that the Whites have been in negotiations over a deal for the Hertha star.
Romano reported that “there is nothing advanced yet with Leeds and the negotiation is not so easy”, so you would assume that means some discussions have taken place.
But Leeds are facing competition, it seems.
Cunha’s stunning form at the Olympics in the last few days has led to Goal reporting that Zenit St Petersburg want the Brazilian.
It is understood that the Russian club is willing to pay £21.3million and a move to St Petersburg has not been ruled out.
But, Goal does add that if Cunha quits Hertha Berlin this summer, he would be more interested in joining a club in either Spain or England.
Based on his goalscoring form at the Olympics, he’s definitely worth pushing forward with a deal to sign him.
Cunha can play almost anywhere in the attack but seems to be at his best when playing off the striker in a No 10 role, or as a deep-lying striker who drops deep and gets involved in the build-up play.
According to the Bundesliga website, the ex-RB Leipzig ace has “speed, skill or intelligence” to beat defenders and has been likened to Liverpool star Roberto Firmino.
Patrick Bamford plays a bit like Cunha so he’d be a great back-up for the Englishman and also someone who’d shine playing with the Elland Road striker in support of him.
In other Leeds United news, Phil Hay has shared a major update on Bielsa’s future as he searches for a new home.