Man Utd on verge of signing striker 'who can have the same impact as Eric Cantona'

Manchester United are reportedly on the verge of announcing their first major signing of the summer, having reached an agreement to secure Wolves forward Matheus Cunha-a player some are comparing to the club’s legendary Eric Cantona.

The move is part of United’s push to revamp Ruben Amorim’s attack, with the club aiming to bring in both a new No.10 and a central striker ahead of the new season.

According to reports, United are prepared to pay Cunha’s £62.5 million release clause at Wolves, fending off potential interest from Arsenal in the process.

The Brazilian has been instrumental for Wolves this season, scoring 17 goals and providing six assists, and his versatility across the forward line is seen as a key asset for United’s rebuilding project1.

Former England and Tottenham winger Chris Waddle believes Cunha could have a transformative effect at Old Trafford, much like Cantona did in the early 1990s.

Waddle stated, “He’s got a huge opportunity here. If he’s one of the players to turn United around and get them challenging again, he could be like Eric Cantona, the man who changed United.”

Cantona’s arrival from Leeds United in 1992/93 is widely credited with modernising the club and sparking a period of sustained success under Sir Alex Ferguson1.

However, Waddle also cautioned that Cunha’s disciplinary record-having missed six games through suspension this season-could be a concern.

He suggested that United’s demanding environment could help Cunha mature, saying, “He can be temperamental, but perhaps United would be the making of him. You can’t be mardy at a club like that, the fans will let you know.”

The addition of Cunha is expected to be the first of several new arrivals this summer, as Amorim and the INEOS leadership look to overhaul a squad that has underachieved domestically.

United are also targeting reinforcements at goalkeeper, centre-back, and central midfield, with significant investment anticipated despite ongoing cost-cutting measures behind the scenes.

Waddle concluded by highlighting the scale of the rebuild, noting that United will need to both invest heavily and find ways to move on high-earning players who are no longer central to the club’s plans.