Victor Munoz has successfully completed his medical examination with Liverpool and is poised to finalize a six-year contract, marking him as the first signing under new head coach Andoni Iraola. The transfer fee for the Spain international from Osasuna is reported to be £34.5 million ($46 million).

Competition for Munoz

Liverpool's acquisition of Munoz comes after they outmaneuvered several clubs, including Newcastle, Bayer Leverkusen, Manchester United, and Real Madrid, all of whom were interested in the versatile forward. Barcelona had also shown interest before opting to sign England international Anthony Gordon, while Real Madrid's matching rights clause in their agreement with Osasuna effectively ruled them out of the race.

Strategic Signing

The Reds activated Munoz's release clause, which includes a stipulation that 50 percent of the fee will go to Real Madrid, who sold the player last summer. New manager Iraola played a crucial role in this signing, having expressed a strong interest in Munoz during discussions with the club's recruitment team. This move comes as Liverpool seeks to strengthen its attacking options, particularly after losing Mohamed Salah at the end of last season and facing a long-term absence of Hugo Ekitike due to a ruptured Achilles tendon.

As Munoz joins the squad, Liverpool remains in negotiations for RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomande, indicating that the club is looking to further enhance its forward line despite the recent signing. The situation around Ekitike, who is currently recovering from injury, has prompted Liverpool to bolster its attacking depth.