Victor Munoz Liverpool transfer confirmed as Spain World Cup winger signs six-year deal

Liverpool have confirmed the signing of Victor Munoz on a permanent deal from Osasuna, after the Reds edged out Newcastle United in the race to sign the winger

Victor Munoz has penned a six-year deal to become the first signing of the Andoni Iraola era at Liverpool.

The Spain international joins, subject to a work permit, from Osasuna after the Reds nudged ahead of Newcastle United and triggered his release clause, which stood just shy of £35m.

Munoz was also being tracked by Bayer Leverkusen and Manchester United while Real Madrid briefly explored bringing him back to the Spanish capital after selling him to Osasuna last summer.

But it’s Iraola’s Reds who Munoz will join once the World Cup concludes after a delegation from Anfield flew in to the United States, where are Spain are based, to complete a medical on Wednesday.

The procedure was undertaken in Chattanooga, Tennessee, where Spain are currently training. Munoz was not involved for the European champions as they began their World Cup campaign with a goalless draw with minnow Cape Verde on Monday night.

The 20-time champions stepped up their interest in Munoz after early talks between Iraola and the club’s recruitment staff, with the Reds boss keen to explore a potential deal due to his admiration for the former Real Madrid youngster.

Liverpool will pay the fee across two instalments and the versatile Munoz is set to add depth to a forward line that lost Mohamed Salah at the end of the campaign and will be without Hugo Ekitike for the foreseeable future after a ruptured Achilles.

Liverpool’s recruitment team had been assessing profiles that they believe will bring out the best of Alexander Isak next season and Munoz, who operates primarily off the left, is someone who can add depth to the forward positions.

Munoz registered six goals and two assists in 34 La Liga games for Osasuna, who he signed for from Madrid for just €5m last summer.

The impending transfer marks the third time in a year that Liverpool have dealt Newcastle a huge blow in the transfer market, having won the race for Ekitike last summer before snaring Isak for a British record fee of £125m, despite the North East club preferring to keep the Sweden international.

Born in Catalonia, 22-year-old Munoz spent three years in Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy but, after a spell at Catalan youth side CF Damm, he joined Real Madrid as an 18-year-old.