Liverpool have completed the signing of Spain winger Victor Muñoz from Osasuna for £34.5m — hijacking Newcastle’s move at the eleventh hour — while their €100m (£86.7m) offer for RB Leipzig’s Yan Diomande has been turned down.
Muñoz, 22, who can play on both wings, will sign a six-year deal at Anfield after Liverpool triggered his €40m (£34.5m) release clause. The club sent staff to the United States, where Muñoz is on World Cup duty with Spain, to conduct his medical on Wednesday. He is Liverpool’s first signing since Andoni Iraola replaced Arne Slot as head coach earlier this month.
“Liverpool sign Victor Muñoz for £34.5m as €100m bid for Yan Diomande is rejected by RB Leipzig.”
Newcastle were in advanced talks to sign Muñoz after selling Anthony Gordon to Barcelona, but Liverpool won the race. La Liga expert Phil Minshull described Muñoz as “one of the pearls of Spanish football” with an excellent work-rate in attack and defence. Muñoz, a graduate of Barcelona’s La Masia academy, made two brief substitute appearances for Real Madrid before joining Osasuna for €5m in July 2025. Madrid retained a 50% sell-on clause and a matching rights option, but concerns over regular playing time under José Mourinho scuppered a return. Barcelona also showed interest before they signed Gordon in a deal worth more than £69m.
The signing came as Liverpool push to replace the departing Mohamed Salah. Their pursuit of Diomande, a 19-year-old Ivory Coast winger also at the World Cup, has hit a snag. Liverpool informed RB Leipzig they would pay a package worth about €100m (£86.7m), but the German side rejected it, seeking a package closer to €120m (£104.1m) or even in excess of €130m (£112m) if Diomande performs well at the tournament. There is no desire from Leipzig to let the teenager leave this window, though an understanding exists that a higher offer could change their stance.
Diomande scored 12 goals and provided eight assists in the Bundesliga last season. Paris St-Germain are also interested but have yet to make an offer, leaving Liverpool in pole position. The bid rejection follows a pattern familiar to Liverpool fans: last summer, they hijacked Newcastle’s move for Hugo Ekitike, and Alexander Isak later forced a move from St James’ Park to Anfield. Now the Reds must decide whether to increase their offer for Diomande or risk losing another target.