Victor Munoz, the Osasuna and Spain winger, looks set to become the first signing of the Andoni Iraola era, with his $46 million (£35 million) release clause a potential bargain
16:46, 18 Jun 2026
Victor Munoz poses for his Spain World Cup photograph.
Victor Munoz poses for his Spain World Cup photograph.(Image: Johnnie Izquierdo - FIFA via Getty Images)
Victor Munoz, it appeared, was going to be the man to replace Anthony Gordon at Newcastle this summer. With a modest release clause and an exciting profile, it made sense.
So too, though, did the deal add up for Liverpool, with the surprise news of a hijacking emerging on Wednesday. The Reds need more speed, trickery and directness in the final third. Tick, tick, and tick. That he is versatile enough to play in multiple roles is a bonus.
At $46 million (£35 million), Munoz was available for a relatively modest fee. Though he arrives having netted only six league goals last season, he was playing for the fourth-worst team in Spain — and his main attribute, his speed, is obvious.
"Think roadrunner," Spanish soccer writer Ruairidh Barlow tells Liverpool.com. "Everything Victor Munoz does is acceleration, and it looks like his legs are moving at a different rate to everyone else.
"Primarily, he's a winger who goes at defenders and looks to either get inside and shoot, or get outside and hit the byline. That's the first thing you'll see, and his pace really does jump out at you.
"Within that pace, he has good feet, and fairly strong technique, but his defining trait is that he wants to stretch defenses to breaking point. He can be a bit of a tornado in the right circumstances.
"Earlier, I saw a comparison with Craig Bellamy, and certainly in terms of body type, there's something in that. He sort of looks like he's bursting out of his own body when he gets going.
Victor Munoz before the Spain vs Iraq international friendly.
Victor Munoz before the Spain vs Iraq international friendly.(Image: Bruno Penas/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)
"Bellamy, of course, is more of a forward, though, whereas Munoz primarily does his damage wider.
"Of course, Liverpool were linked with Anthony Gordon before this, and statistically, the two actually compare quite closely. Personally, I would have said that Munoz is a little less aggressive without the ball, but there's certainly something in that comparison too."
Barcelona, which is where Gordon has gone and why Newcastle wanted Munoz, also considered the 22-year-old. Under Andoni Iraola, however, he will get the chance to show that he can provide his best traits more consistently.
Above all, he is fast, but with that, he needs to ensure there is regular output in the final third.
"Last season, Munoz was one of the revelations in La Liga," Barlow explains. "After some good early form, people started to sit up and take notice, and he's seen as a rising star.
"Before Liverpool, Sunderland tried to buy him, and then Newcastle United this summer. He was also tipped as a potential alternative to Marcus Rashford for Barcelona.
"He's seen as one of Spain's primary rising talents. With wide players capable of beating a defender in high demand, he's one of the few players who can feasibly look like an alternative to Nico Williams on the left side.
Victor Munoz is at the World Cup with Spain.
Victor Munoz is at the World Cup with Spain.(Image: Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)
"Whatever doubts you have about Munoz are mitigated by the fact that it's Iraola taking charge of him. Iraola loves pace out wide, and his wingers tend to thrive. They have a very clear brief to stretch the game, to drive at defenders, and to press aggressively, and those are all things Munoz does and can do."
Munoz is not the only wide forward that Liverpool is keen on. RB Leipzig starlet Yan Diomande is another target, with more than one addition in attacking areas required to ensure there is enough depth.
But while Munoz is not the finished product yet, that is all the more reason for Iraola to be excited about having the chance to develop his fellow countryman.
A former Barcelona academy player who went on to play four games for Real Madrid, Munoz has experience of being in an elite environment — and the exact qualities that Liverpool needs.
"As mentioned earlier, it all starts and ends with pace," Barlow says. "His game is based on an ability to run at defenders with the ball, and run behind them without it. Munoz is direct.
"He has been used across the final third for Osasuna too, so he's considered smart enough to take on positional nuances. His crossing and shooting are good if not great, but if there's one thing I really like about him, it's his awareness of defenders.
"If he receives the ball with his back to goal, or if he gets it wide, he's conscious about checking where the defender is, and where their weight is going. Pace is one thing, but it allows him to get away from players when, in theory, he's at a disadvantage.
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"One of the risks of any player moving to a different country at a younger age is the adaptation process, and Munoz is still perfecting his game.
"Another season or two at a team where he has a starring role every week would have given Munoz a chance to become a player you could rely on. One of the reasons Vinicius Junior, Jeremy Doku or Lamine Yamal are so good is that they can go at defenders for 90 minutes, and Munoz isn't quite able to do that just yet.
"I think with Munoz, you would have liked to see him for another season, but given the arms race at Europe's top clubs, it's no surprise he's gone now.
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"For me, it's certainly worth the risks, and the fact that Iraola will be in charge of him makes you even more comfortable with them. At that price point, you can't expect a readymade star these days, but Munoz is a very bright talent. At 22, he'll also have resale value down the line, and I doubt you will see many similar talents go for less this summer."