Not just Cunha: Wolves could have unearthed a £75m star in the making

Wolverhampton Wanderers fell to a disappointing 2-1 defeat against Fulham on Tuesday night at Molineux.

The Old Gold conceded quick goals at the start of each half to sink them, with Ryan Sessengon and Rodrigo Muniz the goalscorers for the Cottagers.

It was a game that Vitor Pereira’s side arguably had opportunities to win. As per Sofascore, the West Midlands outfit had 18 shots to Fulham’s 11, and more possession, with 60%, showing their domination on the night. However, they did create fewer expected goals than the visitors, with 1.31xG as opposed to 1.69xG.

So, despite the defeat, and in such a frustrating manner, there were some positives for the Old Gold. One of those was the performance of Matheus Cunha, who continues to go from strength to strength.

Cunha’s importance to Wolves

It was not a classic showing from Cunha, one of the richest sources of goals and assists for Wolves. He was fantastic without the ball against Fulham, winning nine out of 14 duels, showing the value he can bring to the side apart from his goal involvements.

His record for the Old Gold is fantastic. In 84 appearances for the club so far, he has 30 goals and 13 assists, with his strikes being a key reason why the club has stayed in the Premier League.

In fact, the Brazilian needs just five more goals in the Premier League this season to finish as the player with the most goals in a single Premier League season in Wolves history. That would take him to 18, just pipping Raul Jimenez, the current leader with 17 goals in the 2019/20 season.

His importance to the Wolves side cannot be understated. Just going off their top goalscorers per season, he is one of their most influential players in recent years, whose goals have been vital for the club.

Cunha is crucial to Wolves’ side, as is one of his fellow Brazilian teammates, who also performed well against Fulham.

Wolves’ £75m star in the making

There is a real Brazilian influence at Molineux, which is exciting given the talent that the South American country produces. Aside from Cunha, they have the likes of Pedro Lima, a young right-back, and midfielder pair Andre and Joao Gomes.

Indeed, it was Gomes who stood out for Pereira’s side against the West Londoners. He scored their only goal, a fantastic finish into the roof of the net on the volley from about ten yards out. It was a wonderful strike.

Playing higher up than normal, almost as a number ten, Gomes had a creative influence in the final third. Charlie Haffenden, journalist for Birmingham World, gave the Brazilian an 8/10 for his performance, and praised him for the fact he ‘created one good opportunity for Cunha’.

It has certainly been an impressive season for the Old Gold number eight in general. He has played 28 times across all competitions, scoring four goals and grabbing two assists in that time. Gomes has been vital for Wolves in their battle for Premier League survival.

Indeed, he is statistically comparable to Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister, according to FBref. The Reds’ star has been exceptional this season, described as “Liverpool’s best player” by former Anfield favourite Jamie Carragher during Manchester United’s trip to Merseyside in January.

Well, the pair are both similar on FBref in several key areas. For example, Mac Allister averages 6.18 progressive passes per game compared to 5.35 for Gomes. The Wolves man averages more tackles and interceptions per game than his Liverpool counterpart, with 4.22 to 4.14.

Gomes vs. Mac Allister key stats compared
Stat (per 90)	Gomes	Mac Allister
Progressive passes	5.35	6.18
Key passes	0.74	1.3
Progressive carries	1.61	1.23
Tackles and interceptions	4.22	4.14
Ball recoveries	5.61	4.95
Stats from FBref

Mac Allister is valued incredibly highly by CIES Football Observatory. The 2022 World Cup winner is believed to be worth £75m, and given their similarity, Gomes could certainly be worth that amount in the future.

He is a crucial player for Wolves, who will be vital for the rest of the season and hope to continue the performances that might make him an incredibly valuable asset in the future.