Wolves Q&A: What would life after Cunha look like?
Over the course of Friday, we have been putting your questions to BBC Radio WM's Mike Taylor. In this part, we look at the future of Wolves' talisman Matheus Cunha.
David asked: Wolves have set a release clause in Matheus Cunha's contract. Does that make it inevitable that this sum will be the most they will get for him?
Mike: Liam Keen of the Express and Star did some helpful reporting on this last month, concluding that the terms of the release clause make it less likely that the reported £62.5m will be exceeded. A lot of Wolves fans I have heard from think that would represent selling him at a discounted rate, and you could see him being an attractive option in the market at that reserve price.
But whatever the technical details of the contract, you can only start an auction if you have enough bidders. Will the incidents against Ipswich and Bournemouth - both attracting FA charges - dampen interest from the sort of clubs Cunha might want to play for? £62.5m would be a hefty chunk out of the budget of all but the biggest clubs. Most would agree Cunha has the talent to play at that level, if he wants to, but, they may now question if he has the temperament.
Idris asked: If Cunha does leave next season, how do you feel Wolves will cope without him?
Mike: That very much depends on how, and if, they fill the gap.
If he goes – and I do not think I have heard from a Wolves fan yet who expects him to stay, although we should note the player himself has said nothing in public about wanting a move – fans will demand the money is spent on replacements.
We saw last summer that Wolves did not feel compelled to find a direct substitute for key players who left. If you can find a like-for-like replacement for Cunha's ability, on a budget, great; but you could burn a lot of money trying to find a single player with the same X-factor.
There is another way. Yes, it was only against a hapless Southampton team, but a win without him – the first in the Premier League not to include a Cunha goal for nearly a year – should raise some confidence that Wolves can find a different route.
Much of Cunha's best work has been virtuoso stuff, a magic goal out of nowhere. Recycling the Cunha cash into three or four players at more modest cost, tailored to the manager's style, could add the depth the squad needs. Consider Wolves' work in January - they bought Emmanuel Agbadou and Marshall Munetsi for, crudely, about half a Cunha.
A post-Cunha Wolves squad might be less flashy, but more dependable.
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