Star who Liverpool really wanted in January is close to joining Man United for £40m+

Manchester United transfer target Matheus Cunha was wanted by Liverpool before they decided to sign Luis Diaz, according to Spanish publication AS.

The Brazilian is now a target for the Red Devils, but it is reported that Jurgen Klopp would have preferred to sign Matheus Cunha ahead of Diaz in January.

Cunha joined Atletico Madrid from Hertha Berlin in a bargain deal of around £22m last year, but found himself behind Joao Felix, Luis Suarez and others in the pecking order at the Wanda Metropolitano.

Despite this tough start and only starting nine games in all competitions, he managed to clock seven goals and seven assists.

Klopp was rebuffed at the time as Diego SImeone views Cunha as ‘a footballer of great importance’, and subsequently moved onto Diaz, who was the subject of interest from Tottenham at the time.

Diaz has proved a roaring success, helping Liverpool win a domestic cup double and reach a Champions League final - scoring in both the Quarter and Semi-Finals on Liverpool’s route to Paris.

But it all could have proved so different, and now Cunha could be on the brink of joining Manchester United.

TalkSPORT revealed earlier this week that Erik ten Hag’s men are ‘close’ to completing the signing of Cunha from Atletico Madrid for a fee in the region of £42 million.

The Daily Mail later claimed that United were weighing up a £45 million offer for the Brazilian after being made aware that he is willing to make the switch this summer from La Liga, which would be a coup for the struggling Red Devils.

Both sides have had torrid starts to their seasons, with Liverpool drawing both of their games with Crystal Palace and Fulham, whilst United have lost both of their matches to Brighton and Brentford.

United clearly need a player of Cunha’s quality a lot more than Liverpool, who have still accumulated the most xG of any side this campaign, but haven’t finished their chances.

There is no surprise that with his impressive record that he is linked to the Premier League, but it would be a huge loss for Atleti if he were to exit.