Liverpool beat four clubs to surprise Victor Munoz transfer as Andoni Iraola plays key role

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Victor Munoz will become the first signing of the Andoni Iraola regime at Liverpool as the Reds moved quickly to sign the Spanish international wingerVictor Munoz underwent his Liverpool medical on Wednesday and will now sign a six-year deal to become the first signing of the Andoni Iraola era at £34.5m.And as well as nudging out Newcastle United to land Spain international Munoz, it's understood the Reds also fended off interest from a slew of others including Bayer Leverkusen, Manchester United and Real Madrid.Barcelona were also interested in Munoz prior to their capture of England international Anthony Gordon, but Real Madrid's matching rights clause in their agreement with Osasuna quickly ruled their La Liga rivals out.Liverpool have triggered Munoz's release clause with Osasuna, of which 50% is due to Real Madrid who sold the player last summer, and the ECHO understands new head coach Iraola was a driving force in landing the 22-year-old.The 20-time champions stepped up their long-standing 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.Reports in France this week claimed Ekitike is targeting a return for the typically hectic festive period in the Premier League in December but the former Eintracht Frankfurt striker is still using a crutch after suffering the serious injury against Paris Saint-Germain in a Champions League quarter-final in early April.The extent of Ekitike's injury meant Liverpool had looked at further bolstering their attacking ranks and the impending capture of Munoz is not thought to affect the pursuit of RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomande, who the Reds are currently in talks over.European champions Paris Saint-Germain are also interested in Ivory Coast winger Diomande, who has been talked up as a potential €100m (£86.5m) player, but Leipzig are reluctant to sell the 19-year-old.The ECHO understands the club sent a delegation to the United States, where Munoz is currently stationed with Spain for the World Cup and a medical has already been undertaken ahead completing the formalities of the deal after being granted permission by the Spain Football Federation.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's tactical flexibility allows him to operate across all areas of the frontline meaning Liverpool don't feel the new arrival will have a detrimental impact of the development of Rio Ngumoha, who made his England debut earlier this month more than two months before his 18th birthday.Munoz registered six goals and two assists in 34 La Liga games for Osasuna, who he signed for from Real 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.The deal further complicates the picture for Federico Chiesa, who is wanted by clubs back in his homeland of Italy. There is a belief internally at Anfield that Iraola's brand of football better suits the former Juventus man, which raises the prospect of the 2024 summer signing staying on Merseyside for next season.However, Chiesa is keen for more game-time going forward and the Reds are expected to have interest from Serie A clubs, where the Italy international's stock remains at its highest.FOLLOW OUR LIVERPOOL FC FACEBOOK PAGE!

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