Manchester United supporters had the first opportunity to see Mashus Kuña active for the club in a friendly clash with Leeds United on Saturday.
The Red Devils were held in a 0-0 draw by the Championship Champions, who will be participating in the Premier League next season, with Brazil International starting the match.
Cunha was replaced by Mason Mount in a break after playing the 45-minute opening of the match as one of the two dozen behind Chido Obi Martin.
In these 45 minutes, the former Wolverhampton Wanderers guy completed 92% of the Red Devils’ attempts, but failed to create a chance or register a shot on goal.
These games are primarily about building fitness on the side of Reuben Amorim, and United’s supporters will know they can’t read their performance as it was his first outing in the preseason after playing for Brazil in the summer.
The exciting forward is a Premier League performer who is already there and has a proven track record of doing it alongside the wolves in the division.
What Matheus Cunha brings to Man Utd
Amorim hopes Cunha will provide a big threat at the top end of the pitch as both a scorer and a goal creator.
Cunha produced impressive returns of 17 goals and six assists in all competitions for Old Gold in the 2024/25 campaign, but it was a shame to register six assists based on the quality of the possibilities the forwards created.
The former Atletico Madrid starlet created 13 “big chances” for his Premier League teammates, but his teammates only found the back of the net six times. This suggests that the wasted finishing touches from his fellow forwards have disappointed him in that regard.
Matheus Cunha (Premier League) | 23/24 | 24/25 |
---|---|---|
exterior | 32 | 33 |
xg | 9.49 | 8.63 |
the goal | 12 | 15 |
A big opportunity has been created | 7 | 13 |
Key Passes for each game | 0.9 | 1.8 |
assist | 7 | 6 |
Statistics via Sofascore |
As you can see from the table above, Cunha has scored 27 Premier League goals over the past two seasons.
So the 26-year-old attacker could bring goals and assists to United teams next season, given that he has already proven his quality in the division and could hit the ground running without adapting to the league.
However, it is still unclear who the club’s first choice number 9 is, and the Red Devils reportedly have an interest in Cuña and the deadly Premier League striker.
Man Utd discusses to sign Premier League striker
According to BBC sports journalist Nizaar Kinsella, Chelsea centre forward Nicholas Jackson is a signature that Manchester United could make before the end of the summer transfer period.
Reporters argue that the Premier League giants have “consulted” with player agents over the possibility of Senegal International’s transfer, facing increasing competition for his place at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea signed Liam Dellup and Joa Pedro to bolster their No. 9 options ahead of next season, allowing United to open the door for a swooping dive for his services.
Kinsella added that before pursuing a deal with Jackson, the club must do “a lot” from an outgoing perspective, but this is a move that could happen in the “right situation.”
The BBC reporter has not revealed how much 24-year-old No. 9 Chelsea wants, but it has been previously reported that Bruce cherishes him for up to £100 million.
Why should Mann utd sign Nicholas Jackson?
If the Red Devils can reach an agreement with Chelsea on a fee for working for all parties, United should push Jackson to Old Trafford.
Jackson is far from a perfect centre forward, which is expected at the age of 24, but he is a player who scored goals at a respectable rating during the UK.
The distance of 30 goals and 11 assists in his first two years in British football at all competitions has nothing to sniff. He showed he can make a big impact in front of goals, but what needs work is his consistency.
It’s little secret that Senegal International is not a world-class finisher who wins a week a week without getting regular service from creative midfielders.
As mentioned earlier, Brazil International showed off his creative quality in the Premier League during the Wolf era.
Nicholas Jackson (Premier League) | 23/24 | 24/25 |
---|---|---|
exterior | 35 | 30 |
xg | 18.64 | 12.34 |
the goal | 14 | 10 |
Per target | 200 | 224 |
A big opportunity has been created | 8 | 6 |
assist | 5 | 5 |
Statistics via Sofascore |
As you can see in the table above, the Chelsea striker has hit double digits of goals in both seasons on the top flight, but he is both below his XG.
This shows Jackson, who was praised as “unbelievable” by Peter Crouch, has the quality to score goals regularly, while creating high quality opportunities for his teammates, but he needs adequate service to do so.
That’s why he can be fatal in the final third of United, as the Brazilian magician has the creative quality to provide Jackson with the opportunity he needs to score regularly.
Overall, Chelsea forward may not be the perfect option, but given his ending issues, he is a proven Premier League scorer and can run alongside Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo and hit the ground.
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