Andoni Iraola has made his first move in the summer transfer market, and it is not the power play that many might have expected. The Reds have agreed a deal to sign Spanish winger Victor Munoz from Osasuna after activating his £34.5m release clause, swooping under the nose of Newcastle United to hijack their own prospective deal for the 22-year-old.
Whilst all the early transfer talk on the Reds has focused on rising star Yan Diomande and France international Bradley Barcola, Iraola has begun his forward-line rebuild with a compatriot whom most Liverpool fans will know very little about.
Munoz's pending arrival immediately adds a new dimension to the Reds' attacking options for next season, with the pacy winger appearing to finally replace the wide pace and dynamism that was lost after Luis Diaz joined Bayern Munich 12 months ago.
What Victor Munoz transfer means for Liverpool
As reported by the ECHO's LFC correspondent Paul Gorst, Liverpool's transfer team has been profiling players who can get the best out of the club's record signings, Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz, and Munoz will be the first player to arrive as a consequence.
The capture of the Spaniard does not affect the Reds' interest in RB Leipzig star Yan Diomande, who is regarded as one of the hottest new prospects playing on the continent. Talks are still ongoing with the Bundesliga club, which is reluctant to sell and will therefore demand a significant transfer fee for its prized asset.
But if Diomande is the marquee signing, then Munoz could be viewed as the smart buy, with Iraola's reputation for polishing rough diamonds making him an ideal candidate for working under the new Anfield boss. Plenty of other top European clubs thought the same, with Manchester United, Bayer Leverkusen, Real Madrid, and even Barcelona all showing interest as well as Newcastle.
Munoz's background and potential role
Munoz knows the other Spanish clubs all too well, having developed in Barca's famed La Masia youth academy from the age of 11 before eventually coming through the ranks at rivals Real Madrid. He made just two senior appearances for Los Blancos, but the appeal of a clear pathway into the first team at Liverpool under Iraola must have appeared to him more than a return to the Galactico environment of the Bernabeu.
Should Iraola succeed in capturing both Munoz and Diomande, then the lion's share of the attacking reshuffle for next season will be complete. Munoz largely operates on the left side of a front three, and Diomande can play on either but would be considered the first replacement for club legend Mohamed Salah on the right.
The pair would then support central striker Alexander Isak as the focal point of the new-look attack. Iraola has a second option in Hugo Ekitike, but the France international won't be seen back on the pitch for months after rupturing his Achilles.
Backup options and potential departures
That leaves Cody Gakpo as a backup option, whilst in the wide areas, Rio Ngumoha can continue his emergence in the Premier League by vying for gametime with both Munoz and Diomande. The arrival of two new wingers should not be viewed as a roadblock for Ngumoha, who will benefit from having his minutes managed while Iraola will have other genuine attacking pace to call on elsewhere.
Whether Gakpo is prepared to act as a back-up to Isak and, in due course, Ekitike, however, remains to be seen. The Reds will want to raise some money to offset their transfer business this summer, after a huge outlay last year, and the Dutch international could be a candidate for departure.
