Victor Munoz transfer news: Liverpool hijack Newcastle’s move for Osasuna winger after triggering release clause | Football News

Liverpool have triggered the release clause for Osasuna winger Victor Munoz.

The Reds have effectively hijacked Newcastle’s attempts to sign the Spain winger after Sky Sports News reported the Magpies were in talks over a deal.

The 22-year-old is part of Spain’s squad at the World Cup. Reports say he will undergo a medical in the USA and join for a fee of £34.6m.

The situation is reminiscent of last summer, when Liverpool not only gazumped Newcastle in the race for Hugo Ekitike but also signed Alexander Isak, their star striker.

Munoz joined Barcelona’s La Masia academy aged 11 before eventually making the switch to Real Madrid’s youth team in 2023.

Current Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso gave the winger his LaLiga debut for the first team in May 2025, introducing him as a substitute for Vinicius Junior against Barca.

Munoz signed a five-year deal at Osasuna that summer and played 34 league games last season, scoring six goals and providing two assists.

Liverpool want two wingers this summer

Liverpool are planning to sign two wingers to replace Mohamed Salah with Yan Diomande considered another top target. There is a lot of competition for the 19-year-old, who is valued at more than £86m by RB Leipzig and currently at the World Cup with Ivory Coast.

Diomande, who can play on both wings, possesses the versatility Liverpool are prioritising this summer as they seek to rebuild their forward line with players that can be adaptable, providing Andoni Iraola with more options than his predecessor in case injuries arise.

Right-back is another pressing area for Liverpool, who lost Conor Bradley to a knee injury in January, because last summer’s signing Jeremie Frimpong failed to make the position his own, while there is also uncertainty around Joe Gomez’s future.

Despite the departure of Ibrahima Konate, Liverpool do not consider signing a new centre-back to be a priority with the £60m arrival of Jeremy Jacquet and the return of teenager Giovanni Leoni, who has been out with an ACL injury since September.

However, that duo’s lack of Premier League experience could see Liverpool revisit their stance later in the window. An option, like Gomez, who can play both right-back and centre-back, would solve a lot of Liverpool’s problems at the back.

Kostas Tsimikas’ return from his loan at Roma could ease the urgency to bring in a left-back replacement for the departing Andy Robertson if he impresses. All players will have a clean slate under Iraola, which is potentially good news for Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliott.

Ryan Gravenberch’s emergence as a No 6 in Arne Slot’s first year put plans to bring in a holding midfielder further down the priority list at Liverpool but the team’s performances in the season just gone have highlighted a need for reinforcements in that position.