Wolverhampton Wanderers are likely to stay in the Premier League next season, currently holding a comfortable six-point lead over the relegation zone.
The arrival of Vitor Pereira as manager came at a good time, and with a few more wins, he can begin planning for the next season.
Pereira will be keen to keep Matheus Cunha, as the Brazilian forward has been crucial in their efforts to remain in the top division this season.
Mathues Cunha’s Impressive Season Stats
Cunha had a strong first full season at Wolverhampton in 2023/24, scoring 14 goals as the team avoided relegation. Expectations were high for the current season.
In the 2024/25 season, he has been outstanding in attack, scoring 15 goals in 29 matches and providing four assists.
He has scored against big teams like Manchester United, Liverpool, and Chelsea, showing his ability to perform in important games.
Furthermore, Cunha averages 3.3 shots per game in the league, creates 12 significant chances, and averages 1.7 key passes per game for Wolves.
These stats demonstrate that Cunha is not only a consistent scorer but also adept at creating opportunities for his teammates.
It was unfortunate when he was sent off against Bournemouth in the FA Cup for an incident with Milos Kerkez.
However, even with that incident, his performance has been significantly better than that of a player Gary O’Neil sold last summer.
Wolves Made a Great Decision Selling Pedro Neto
Pedro Neto’s last season with Wolves was very productive. He achieved 14 goal contributions, which led to Chelsea signing him in the summer for around £54 million. This was a 260% increase from the initial £15 million Wolves paid for him.
This sale gave O’Neil financial flexibility in the transfer market. However, losing a player of Neto’s caliber was a major setback to their survival hopes, especially since the manager valued him highly.
‘I have always liked him. His attitude and approach since I have been here has been top notch. I can’t speak highly enough of him at the minute, I think he has been incredible.’
So, how does Neto compare to Cunha, who could be Wolves’ next big sale?
| Comparing Cunha & Neto in the PL this season | ||
|---|---|---|
| Metric | Cunha | Neto |
| Goals | 13 | 3 |
| Assists | 4 | 4 |
| Big chances created | 12 | 6 |
| Shots per game | 3.3 | 1.4 |
| Key passes per game | 1.7 | 1.2 |
| Successful dribbles per game | 1.9 | 1 |
Neto has returned five goals and seven assists in 32 appearances, which is decent, but he only started 22 games this season.
In the Premier League, Neto has created six big chances and averages 1.2 key passes per game, while taking only 1.4 shots per game. These stats are lower than Cunha’s this season.
Furthermore, Neto’s stats compared to other Premier League players this season show he ranks in only the top 42% for successful take-ons (1.5), top 35% for touches in the opposition box (5.06), and top 41% for shot-creating actions (3.68).
Based on these statistics, Cunha is having a more productive season, and Wolves made a smart financial move by selling Neto for a high price last year.
Vihaan Mehrotra