Why Cunha is the perfect fit for Man Utd

The perfect mix of ability, athleticism and an occasional ill temper. Manchester United have been here before.

Just like the days of Eric Cantona at Old Trafford, where quality and chaos were often close by, Matheus Cunha has had both good and bad days in the Premier League this season.

But as his transfer to Manchester United looks set to be confirmed, the qualities that have put him on Ruben Amorim's radar are there in plain sight.

And while a move to Manchester would mean swapping one side in the bottom six for another, the Brazilian seems ready to challenge himself to put United back on course.

An ability to score and create

Much has been made of United's attacking struggles, but whether it be through creativity or his devastating finishing, Cunha has had an extraordinary season with Wolves.

Despite missing six games through suspension, the 26-year-old scored 17 goals and got six assists.

His 15 Premier League goals would put him way ahead of anyone in the United squad from last season - with Bruno Fernandes' eight the closest competitor.

But what's even more remarkable is his outperformance of his xG.

According to Opta, Cunha attempted 120 shots in the league, with an xG of 9.3. Meaning he scored almost double the amount of goals he was expected to.

This demonstrates his maverick-like ability to create something out of nothing.

United themselves were on the receiving end of that in December, when Cunha scored directly from a corner in a 2-0 win for Wolves at Molineux.

Ideal for the system

If his goals weren't enough, is no secret that Cunha fits perfectly in to Amorim's system.

During his time in the West Midlands, Cunha has consistently played as the left-sided number 10 in a 3-4-2-1 formation - an approach favoured by his potential new head coach.

Both Gary O'Neil and then Vitor Pereira used this set-up at Wolves and it has allowed the Brazilian to flourish in the past two seasons.

Cunha's football intelligence, combined with his 6ft frame, often helps to drive his team forward in to attacking positions.

Add that to the fact that he can also play in any of the positions in the front four and you create quite the threat.

According to Opta, Cunha had 25 chance-creating carries in the Premier League this campaign, with four of them converted by his team-mates, and no other player at Wolves created more opportunities.