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Liverpool are set to sign Victor Munoz for £34.5m after activating the release clause in the Osasuna winger’s contract.
The Spain international will become Andoni Iraola’s first signing as the club begin a summer revamp of their forward line following Mohamed Salah’s departure.
Liverpool’s move for the 22-year-old came after interest from Newcastle United, with the Merseyside club once again beating competition for a target also tracked by Manchester United, Bayer Leverkusen, Real Madrid and Barcelona.
Iraola is understood to have pushed for the deal, viewing Munoz as a player he knows well from La Liga. Liverpool see him as a versatile attacker capable of playing on both wings as well as centrally. He scored seven goals for Osasuna last season.
Munoz is seen as a potential long-term replacement on the right flank, while also offering cover on the left and up front, with Hugo Ekitike expected to miss the start of the season through injury.
According to Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg, Munoz will be announced as a Liverpool player this week. Munoz is expected to sign a six-year contract after completing a medical in the United States, where he is currently with the Spain squad for the World Cup.
Plettenberg posted on X: “Victor Muñoz to Liverpool set to be finalised and announced this week. All done and sealed. Liverpool are activating €40m release clause.”
Munoz previously spent time at Real Madrid before joining Osasuna, but opted against a return to the Bernabéu due to concerns over playing time. Barcelona also showed interest, but Real reportedly held matching rights over any move involving the player.
Newcastle United believed they had secured a deal for Victor Munoz before Liverpool moved in to sign the Osasuna winger.
The Magpies had agreed a £33.3m package with the LaLiga club, consisting of an initial £29m plus £4.3m in add-ons. The Spain forward had also accepted personal terms, while agent fees were settled and plans were in place for a medical in the United States.
Newcastle were confident the deal was complete after being told the player wanted the move, but were later instructed by his representatives to pause proceedings over the last 24 hours.
Liverpool, however, had remained in contact throughout the process and were never fully out of the race before stepping up their interest to secure the Spain international.