‘Key point’ - Fabrizio Romano issues double Wolves transfer news update and it may worry a few

Talks between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Atletico Madrid are ongoing for Brazilian pair Matheus Cunha and Felipe, but Julen Lopetegui’s side may have to hurry to get the deals done, according to a reputable report. Wolves are hoping to sign both players in the January window as Lopetegui’s first big transfer decision since taking over from Bruno Lage in the dugout.

Cunha and Felipe are both rather out of favour at the Wanda Metropolitano this season, as they have made just 11 and two appearances respectively. Cunha has played only 29% of the minutes available to him in La Liga, whereas Felipe has stepped foot on the field for just 14%, meaning they are far from indispensable to the Spanish giants.

Despite this, one of these players is of interest to an array of teams - and it could prove troublesome for Wolves. There is also another key hurdle that will need to be avoided in order to get a deal across the line. “Negotiations between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Atletico Madrid will continue for both Matheus Cunha and Felipe,” Fabrizio Romano tweeted on Monday morning.

“Wolves want to be fast as there are more Premier League clubs keen on signing Cunha. Personal terms are another key point,” Romano said. Cunha currently earns around £50,000 per week with Atletico and so his agent is likely to ask for a considerable sum in negotiations. It could also prove tough to bring him to Molineux if a Premier League rival were to offer a larger salary packet.

Felipe, meanwhile, sees his Atletico contract expire in June 2023. The 33-year-old, who has made 112 appearances for the club across all competitions, would likely be available for a cut-price fee in January as a result. Felipe reportedly earns a higher wage than Cunha, though, at around £77,000 per week.

The centre back would provide much-needed depth in defence if he were to complete a transfer, as Wolves have struggled this campaign after the loan departure of Conor Coady. Max Kilman and big-money signing Nathan Collins have done alright, but they have hardly blown it out of the park - and a lack of depth was clear to see as fixture congestion racked up before the World Cup break.

Cunha’s arrival would provide competition to the likes of Daniel Podence, Goncalo Guedes, Matheus Nunes and Adama Traore. The 23-year-old has scored 39 goals and contributed 29 assists in 179 senior career appearances, including spells at Atletico, RB Leipzig, Hertha Berlin and FC Sion.

The Brazilian’s presence could boost Wolves’ current crop as they hope to battle for their own starting eleven spots. Cunha could also help Lopetegui play his favoured system, which depends heavily on chance creation from attacking midfielders. The January transfer window opens at midnight on January 1, 2023.