Victor Munoz has made 12 appearances for Liverpool since snubbing Newcastle United at the eleventh hour, scoring two goals and providing an assist in the Premier League this season.
The 23-year-old Spain international was close to joining Newcastle during the summer transfer window, with a fee agreed and personal terms settled. He was set to undergo a medical in Tennessee, where the Spanish national team were based for the World Cup, before Liverpool paid his release clause and convinced him to move to Merseyside instead.
Liverpool's Late Move for Munoz
Liverpool's recruitment process this summer focused on wingers following Mohamed Salah's departure. Andoni Iraola's first conversations with the recruitment team flagged Munoz as a potential option, with the buyout clause enabling a clean and quick deal. Liverpool sent a delegation to Chattanooga, Tennessee, to conclude the medical during the World Cup, and he signed two weeks after Iraola's appointment.
Since joining, Munoz has featured mainly off the right and has scored important goals against Nottingham Forest and Brentford, both equalisers. He is under contract at Anfield until the summer of 2032.
Competition for Places at Anfield
Munoz is competing with Cody Gakpo, Bradley Barcola and Rio Ngumoha for regular game time at Liverpool. He currently sits behind Gakpo and Barcola, who are the first-choice pairing, but has been deployed at right-back on occasions when Liverpool have been chasing games.
Fans appear to like him, according to the Liverpool Echo's Liverpool correspondent Paul Gorst. He is described as direct and low maintenance, and he is learning English and looking to immerse himself in his new surroundings.
Newcastle's Alternative Signing
Newcastle moved on to their next target and secured a £43m deal to sign Bazoumana Toure from Hoffenheim. Despite scoring twice this season in all competitions, Toure is yet to make a Premier League start.
Munoz was never brought in to be Liverpool's superstar, and the £34.5m fee paid represents a low-risk deal. He is young enough and good enough to be moved on without Liverpool taking much of a financial hit if things do not go to plan, but for now he is one of many settling into new surroundings in a team developing in the months ahead.
