Aston Villa have reportedly made contact over a potential move for Atletico Madrid forward Matheus Cunha.

The Lowdown: Cunha profiled

The 23-year-old is primarily a centre-forward who can also play out wide and joined Atletico last year. He has scored 39 goals during his career so far and has been described by his former Hertha Berlin boss Bruno Labbadia as a player who has “something special”.

Cunha's former club RB Leipzig also hailed him on social media as a “magician”, and it looks as if a move to the Midlands could be on the cards in 2023.

The Latest: Villa contact Cunha

Birmingham Live reporter Ashley Preece relayed an update from an Italian transfer specialist regarding Villa and Cunha on Thursday.

He claimed that NSWE and Villa have a ‘real interest’ in the Brazilian and that ‘first contacts between the parties have taken place’.

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The Verdict: One to watch?

Unai Emery is keen to land a new A-list forward in the New Year who can operate all across the front three.

Cunha can certainly do that, so a possible move to Villa could be one to keep an eye on heading into the New Year.

An Olympic gold medallist for Brazil, the 23-year-old has scored just seven goals in 54 games for Atletico, so he may well be open to a new challenge, possibly in the Premier League alongside compatriot Douglas Luiz.