Cunha ready to 'take the next step' by leaving Wolves
Matheus Cunha indicated he is keen to leave Wolves at the end of this season, saying he has "made it clear that I need to take the next step".
Cunha is currently halfway through serving a four-game ban, having been sent off against Bournemouth in the FA Cup, and will miss Tuesday's meeting with West Ham.
Wolves are 17th in the Premier League table but have a nine-point cushion between them and Ipswich Town, having lost just one of their last four league games.
The Brazilian, who was linked with a move to Arsenal in January, signed a long-term contract extension in February, with that deal running through to June 2029. The announcement came after he scored in a win over Aston Villa to lift Wolves out of the relegation zone.
"I had a lot of offers [in January], but I wouldn't feel well if I had done it," he told The Guardian.
"Some things you can't control, but I couldn't leave the club in the middle of the season, in a difficult situation.
"Now, we're close to achieving our goal [of staying up]. But I've made it clear that I need to take the next step. I want to fight for titles, for big things. I have potential."
— Wolves (@Wolves) March 30, 2025
West Ham sit just one place above Wolves, but are six points better off than their opponents, and a win on Tuesday could see them move up to 14th.
Graham Potter's side have lost just one of their last four matches in the Premier League, though their last win came on February 27 against Leicester City.
West Ham are boosted by the return of Niclas Fullkrug from injury, and Potter was also buoyed by Evan Ferguson's performances over the international break when he scored for the Republic of Ireland.
"For forwards, it's nice for them to score, and it was nice for Evan to score for Ireland during the international window," Potter said.
"Going away and again, being in a different environment, with a different team, just to get some minutes, just to play, to score, it's great for a forward.
"He's been good in training, and he's come back in a good place. He's always been ready to help the team. He's settled in well with the group here; he trains hard every day, and he's ready to play."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Wolves – Jorgen Strand Larsen
Jorgen Strand Larsen has made 94 targeted off-the-ball runs into the box in the Premier League this season, at least 11 more than any other player.
The Norwegian scored a brace against Southampton last time out to end a run of seven league appearances without a goal.
West Ham – Mohammed Kudus
Only Jeremy Doku has attempted (167) and completed (88) more take-ons in the Premier League this season than Mohammed Kudus (162 attempted, 70 successful).
Sixty-two of the Ghanaian's take-ons have been made inside his own half, at least 12 more than any other player in 2024-25.
A Tuesday night trip to Wolverhampton pic.twitter.com/hx5Uufhjsj
— West Ham United (@WestHam) March 30, 2025
MATCH PREDICTION: DRAW
Wolves lost this exact fixture 2-1 last season but have not lost consecutive home league games against West Ham since a run of three between 1920 and 1922.
Wolves have picked up as many points in their last six Premier League games (10 – W3 D1 L2) as they had in their previous 12 beforehand (W3 D1 L8). They are looking to win successive matches in the competition for the third time this season, after also doing so in November and December.
West Ham have won seven of their last nine league games against Wolves (L2), as many as they had in their previous 23 against them (D6 L10).
And, Graham Potter has won his last two Premier League matches against Wolves, both by a 3-0 scoreline (with Brighton in April 2022 and with Chelsea in October 2022). That comes after he had failed to win any of his first five such meetings with them (D3 L2).
The Hammers have won each of their last three Premier League games played in midweek (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday). Not since May 2021 have they won four midweek league games in a row.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Wolves – 39.4%
Draw – 28.1%
West Ham – 32.5%