Sport

Manchester United reportedly leading the race for Matheus Cunha after multiple ‘hints’

A very talented footballer, no question about that.

Danny Jones Danny Jones - 22nd April 2025

Manchester United may have come crashing back down to reality after their 1-0 loss at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday, but they may have left with a consolation prize as multiple so-called ‘hints’ and the latest transfer rumours have it that Matheus Cunha is in their sights.

Cunha has been one of the best players in a struggling Wolves side over the past couple of seasons and was one of the most effective on the pitch once again as the visitors did the double over Man United for the first time since 1979/80.

It may have been an impressive free kick from Pablo Sarabia that got Vitor Pereira’s squad over the line after the home team missed a number of chances in front of goal, but many fans felt it was somewhat of a second audition for Cunha, who scored and assisted for both goals in the reverse fixture.

Notwithstanding his latest performance, if you’re inclined to believe the latest transfer rumblings from reliable sources such as Fabrizio Romano and The Athletic, it sounds like United are pushing hard for Matheus Cunha already and that the signs are looking promising.

Even prior to Stockport-born United journalist Laurie Whitwell’s report on Tuesday morning, numerous outlets were quick to hop on what is becoming an increasingly intriguing saga.

Transfer expert Romano had already claimed that there were “good feelings” following early contact between the two clubs, noting that discussions around personal terms are underway with United fully aware that Cunha will have plenty of suitors given his relatively reasonable release clause in this climate.

Speaking on his YouTube Channel, the Italian reporter went on to insist that the club are now leading the race and pushing hard to get a deal done early, adding that a source has told him there “great connection” between all interested parties.

Cunha, 25, was also at the centre of a mini media storm of his own making earlier this month too, after sharing an Instagram post which read: “Time to be happy. I will follow my dreams and yours… So stay cool.” It was deleted shortly after.

Romano also went on to state that “the feeling between Matheus Cunha and Ruben Amorim is excellent”, with supporters from both clubs spotting that the fellow Portuguese speaker was quick to put his arm around the Wolves number 10 once again after the full-time whistle.

Whether or not the Man United head coach was putting in his own additional effort to try and tap up Cunha or at least bend his ear on the situation, only time will tell, but it seems with the microscope fully on the Brazilian attacking midfielder, virtually everything he does is being closely scrutinised.

For instance, other eagle-eyed fans noticed that the former Red Bull Leipzig star and Olympic gold medallist did something rather intriguing when walking out onto the pitch at Old Trafford before kick-off this past weekend.

Make of that what you will…

The fact that he was spotted not just waving and acknowledging supporters both before and after the game, but even stopping to take pictures outside Old Trafford, has also added fuel to the fire.

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All evidence appears to point towards transfer and player contract talks already progressing, even if they are still in their early stages, and there seems to be a belief that Cunha himself would be keen on the move, especially with Wolves lingering just above the drop zone.

More crucially, however, how the INEOS leadership group will finance a potential move given Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s recent revelations about the club’s financial state is another obstacle entirely.

At the very least, it’s clear that there will need to be outgoings in order for Man United to undergo any real activity in the upcoming summer transfer window.

The question is, would you like to see Cunha swap ‘old gold’ for red?

You can watch the highlights from the defeat at Old Trafford down here.

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Sky Sports (screenshots via YouTube)/Bex Walton (via Flickr)

Sport

Darts returns to Manchester as Premier League dates are confirmed for 2026

Danny Jones Danny Jones

The schedule for the 2026 Premier League Darts tour has been officially announced, with the PDC’s annual championship returning to Manchester once again.

PDC Premier League fixtures continue to grow in popularity both in TV figures and live match attendance, with a whole new generation of fans getting into ‘the arrows’.

Just as it has for decades now, league darts is coming back to Manchester city centre and the legendary AO Arena once again, with our date landing right in the middle of the season.

Booking a big night right in the middle of a crucial period in the competition? It sounds like 0161 is set to welcome another blockbuster night up at the oche.

Confirmed on Thursday, 11 September, next year’s PDC Premier League Darts campaign will get underway in February, spanning the course of four months and eight countries.

Of the European cities on the circuit, the tournament will be heading to Belgium for the very first time, as the AFAS Dome in Antwerp replaces Exeter.

Elsewhere on the continent, there are two other mainland evenings in Germany and the Netherlands, along with multiple Northern dates here in the UK, such as Liverpool, Leeds and Sheffield.

As for Manchester, we’ve been selected for round nine of 17 (including the finals), with the AO Arena set to welcome multiple favoured competitors from the North West, including 18-year-old phenomenon Luke Little from down the road in Warrington, as well as Stockport’s very own Nathan Aspinall.

It was an unforgettable experience for Aspinall last time around in his local event, as he finally managed to win a PDC Premier League night on home turf for the first time in his career.

‘Darts needs more Nathan Aspinalls’ – Stockport star praised after emotional hometown win
We were arguably just as emotional as he was.

Those hoping to enjoy a night of darts in front of a Manchester crowd on April 26, 2026, still have to be patient for now, as general admission is still a little way off.

However, if you are interested, you can sign up for the AO’s newsletter to find out more information and get yourself on the waiting list early.

Better, if you go straight through the PDC, you can throw your hat in the ring for the presale window right now and be first in line to grab tickets when they go live.

You can do so HERE and, until then, get your signs and fancy dress at the ready because we’ll be heading back to the ‘boring, boring tables’ soon enough.

See the 2026 PDC Premier League Darts schedule in full down below:

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Featured Images — Sandro Halank (via Wikimedia Commons)/Press shot (supplied via AO Arena)

Sport

Manchester City said no to a pretty significant player swap with Liverpool last year

Danny Jones Danny Jones Man City said no to swapping Julian Alvarez with Luis Diaz from Liverpool

Manchester City reportedly rejected a transfer proposal involving swapping one of their youngest and most exciting stars with close rivals Liverpool in 2024

This could have proved to be an interesting one…

Man City aren’t exactly short on forwards at the moment and have brought in plenty of attacking options over the past year, and with Erling Haaland breaking all manner of records up front for them, they didn’t find it too hard to sell on another promising young striker in Julián Álvarez for a club record sale.

However, as per recent claims made by a Telegraph Sport journalist, there was a possibility of Álvarez swapping the blue of City for the red of Liverpool.

That’s according to football writer Chris Bascombe, anyway, who recently wrote that the two Premier League sides could have engaged in a player swap deal were the division’s then Treble-winners willing to negotiate with the only other team that has really contested the title with them in recent years.

As you can see, Bascombe states that Luis Díaz wanted a switch to the Etihad Stadium even before the current English champions shuffled their front three.

This has been backed up by The Times’ Paul Joyce as well, who says that the Colombian winger was ultimately “unsettled” by interest from City and others

Díaz (who recently signed for Bayern Munich) made it clear he wanted to play under Pep Guardiola, and it seems there was at least some willingness from the Merseyside outfit.

Provided they get an increasingly wantaway Julián Álvarez in return.

With Haaland having been brought in and making himself comfortably the go-to number nine for what could very well be the next decade, they clearly saw an opportunity to offer him an alternative, but Man City simply said, “We don’t sell to rivals.”

Ultimately, the now 25-year-old World Cup winner went to Europe, joining Atletico Madrid for a whopping £81.5m.

Regardless, it seems hard to imagine not only two top-flight English teams doing a deal like this but to picture what it would have been like to see Álvarez, who was still very highly thought of among a large section of supporters, being cheered on by the fans inside Anfield.

The Argentinian striker – though he has been utilised in a variety of positions at the top end of the pitch – has well and truly shone in La Liga, and now looks like he could be set to swap Madrid for Barcelona.

Álvarez has apparently made it clear to those closest to him that he wants Barca, and despite the summer window closing, the Catalan giants could pursue a deal to sign him next year when his contract expires, or indeed, even go after him this January.

Meanwhile, after bringing in plenty of new talent over the past few months, with Manchester City now effectively being given the green light to proceed with a major commercial sponsorship deal, you could very well see yet more big money being spent in seasons to come.

Manchester City issue statement as they reach agreement over ‘APT’ controversy
City having rejected a bold Liverpool transfer offer isn’t the only big story around the club of late.

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Featured Images — pantkiewicz (via Flickr)/Dudek1337 (via Wikimedia Commons)

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