Wolves news: Analysis – Stats on Matheus Cunha’s impact

News of your star player’s possible summer exit breaking just as you have secured your Premier League status for another season is not ideal as as a fan.

But that is the reality for Wolves supporters after it emerged on Tuesday that Manchester United are interested in signing forward Matheus Cunha.

With 16 goals and four assists across all competitions this campaign, the 25 year old’s numbers have been impressive.

But how worried do fans need to be about the possibility of life without Cunha?

Maybe not as concerned as they once could have been.

While the sample size of matches without the Brazil international in the side is much smaller (13 as opposed 62), according to Opta, Wolves do boast a better win percentage across all competitions over the past two seasons when he has not played – 61.5% without Cunha against 29% with.

With 91 goals scored in games he has featured and 18 netted when has not, the average number of goals for is remarkably similar (1.5 with vs 1.4 without).

The team also tend to concede less when he has not been on the pitch, averaging 1.9 with him and 1.2 without.

When looking at the Premier League alone over the past two seasons, while again a similar difference in sample size, Wolves have picked up more points without the forward in the team – taking 1.1 points per game when Cunha does play, compared to 1.7 when he does not.

With 12 goals and three assists in 34 games this campaign, a key factor has been striker Jorgen Strand Larsen stepping up in Cunha’s absence.

While no team ever wants to lose their top scorer, perhaps it is possible for Wolves to breathe a little easier if they ultimately have to say goodbye to Cunha this summer.