Liverpool have snatched another Newcastle United transfer target, less than a year after securing a deal for Hugo Ekitike. The French striker was on the brink of joining the Magpies last summer but eventually signed for the Reds.
The two clubs have now experienced a repeat scenario in their chase for Osasuna star Victor Munoz. The 22-year-old was pursued by Newcastle and numerous other sides, but Liverpool landed their man after activating the winger's £34.5million release clause.
Munoz has agreed a six-year contract at Anfield, becoming Andoni Iraola's first signing as manager. The deal mirrors the circumstances surrounding Ekitike's arrival at the Reds last summer.
During a season in which the Reds' transfer strategy faced criticism, the 23-year-old proved a tremendous success. The France international immediately began justifying his £79m price tag after moving from Eintracht Frankfurt.
Ekitike netted 17 goals across all competitions, despite his season being curtailed through injury. However, the forward acknowledged during the campaign that he had nearly joined Newcastle.
Before playing the Magpies in January, Ekitike said: "Obviously we were close [to signing for Newcastle] but I made my choice. I knew where I wanted to come, so that's all I can give to you."
When quizzed about a potentially hostile reception from Newcastle supporters, he added: "I don't care. I play for Liverpool, I have my fans here, we played there (Newcastle) already and won so hopefully we will have a great week of working. I don't care about this, I just want to play and help the team. It is simple."
Newcastle made approaches for several strikers during last summer's transfer window. Boss Eddie Howe was keen to bolster his attacking options, but agent Ali Barat admitted that a phone call from Liverpool to Ekitike changed the player's plans.
"Hugo Ekitike. I was working on behalf of Eintracht Frankfurt to bring him to Newcastle," Barat told TuttoSport. "I stayed in Germany for 10 days. We agreed everything with the German club and the player, then Liverpool called him and he chose Anfield."
Newcastle boss Howe had openly acknowledged his interest in the striker before Liverpool swooped in. "I think there's no doubting that I really like Hugo and have done for a number of years," Howe said. "He's someone that we've tracked for a long time."
Adding to Newcastle's frustration, Liverpool then snapped up the club's talisman Alexander Isak for a British record fee on deadline day. The Reds' pursuit of Munoz represents the third occasion within a year that the club have disrupted Newcastle's transfer plans.
