Rio Ferdinand says Matheus Cunha signing raises questions over future of Man Utd trio

Manchester United are set to sign Matheus Cunha for a fee of £62.5 (Picture: Getty)

Rio Ferdinand expects Manchester United to cover the costs of signing Matheus Cunha by selling one of of Alejandro Garnacho or Kobbie Mainoo – plus Marcus Rashford – this summer.

United officially confirmed the impending arrival of Cunha this afternoon, with the 26-year-old attacker reaching an agreement to leave Wolves after two-and-a-half eye-catching seasons at Molineux.

The Brazilian’s move, which will set United back £62.5million, is subject to visa approval and registration procedures.

Following on from United’s January deal for Patrick Dorgu, Cunha becomes only the second first-team addition of Ruben Amorim’s reign at Old Trafford.

It’s understood Cunha has agreed to pen to paper on a five-year contract with the Red Devils, tying him to the club until 2030.

‘He needs to reboot this attack. We don’t look like we’re going to score goals in open play unless it’s Bruno [Fernandes] or maybe Amad [Diallo],’ Ferdinand said of Cunha’s arrival on his official YouTube channel Rio Ferdinand Presents.

‘We’ve taken Wolves’ top goalscorer this season. He’s got 16 goals to his name in all competitions.

Cunha has agreed a five-year contract at Old Trafford (Picture: Getty)

United legend Ferdinand is ‘happy’ with the signing (Picture: Getty)

‘He’s one of the players that I mentioned a few weeks ago: if I had a shopping list, he would be on there.

‘He knows the Premier League so he doesn’t need any adaptation time.

‘This is a huge factor… if you’re going to buy players from foreign leagues, players that don’t have the experience in the Premier League, there is always a risk.

‘But he has the experience here, we’ve seen him here, he grew up a Manchester United fan.’

Ferdinand believes Cunha’s excellent performance in Wolves’ victory at Old Trafford in April may have convinced United’s recruitment team to pursue a move for the Brazil international.

‘I’m hearing he’s taking the No.10 shirt which was Rashford’s shirt. What does that mean for Marcus Rashford, man?’ the legendary ex-United and England defender continued.

‘There’s a lot of questions that will be asked about that as well and it might answer a few questions.

But 17 goals and six assists in 36 games for a Wolves team is impressive.

Cunha becomes the second first-team signing of Amorim’s tenure (Picture: Getty)

‘The recruitment team, the coaches and the players will have seen what he did to Manchester United at Old Trafford. He was slicing through Manchester United like a hot knife through butter.

‘He looked like he had the power and I think he fits a Ruben Amorim player profile perfectly. He’s quick, he’s dynamic, he’s aggressive, he’s capable of dropping deep and transitioning with the ball, he can pass and he can threaten the opponents with a goal by running deep or coming short.

‘I think he’s the type of player that Ruben Amorim has been crying out for and with neither [Rasmus] Hojlund or [Joshua] Zirkzee at the moment looking like the answer in advanced positions, I think he has a real opportunity to play across one of those three positions quite easily, as a nine, as one of the guys off the sides.’

Mainoo and Garnacho face an uncertain future at United (Picture: Getty)

According to Ferdinand, the addition of Cunha raises serious questions about the future of Garnacho, Mainoo and Rashford – who have all been linked with summer moves away from United.

‘The only thing I would say in this window is that £60m in this window, it will remain to be seen what type of work gets done when you’re spending a big chunk like that,’ Ferdinand went on.

‘As much as I’m happy with it, it means they are going to be some going out of the door and it means there’s going to be somebody like Garnacho or Kobbie Mainoo… and Marcus Rashford.

‘They will be the players that will be going I think, so when you look at it it’s a lot of money. But where are you going to get players that can come and affect your first-team for that type of money?’

Though pleased with the signing, Ferdinand hopes United quickly switch their attentions to strengthening in other areas in the transfer market.

‘If I was advising the recruitment team on anything now, I would be saying: “Please make sure you do not forget an experienced No.9”,’ he added.

‘I’m not going to say names, I’ve said the names too many times, and I would go and get a midfielder as well.

‘A midfielder that can dictate the player and pass and be the orchestrator, but he also needs to have some legs about him as well.

‘That’s what Ruben Amorim’s teams are about, they do that.’

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