Víctor Muñoz to Liverpool is happening — and it could be the most exciting piece of Premier League business this summer. Sources have confirmed to ESPN that the Reds are set to sign the Osasuna and Spain international winger for €40 million, moving fast to secure one of LaLiga’s most explosive young talents before anyone else could get near him. Newcastle United thought they had their man. They didn’t.
Víctor Muñoz Fills a Gaping Hole in Liverpool’s Attack
Mohamed Salah’s departure on a free transfer this summer has left a void at Anfield that no single player can simply fill overnight. Add Federico Chiesa’s likely exit and Hugo Ekitike’s recovery from a ruptured Achilles, and new head coach Andoni Iraola is genuinely short of options on the flanks. Liverpool have reportedly tracked RB Leipzig’s Yan Diomande and Paris Saint-Germain’s Bradley Barcola, but they moved decisively on Muñoz first. That tells you everything.
The 22-year-old spent time in the academies of both Barcelona and Real Madrid before joining Osasuna for around €5 million last summer. He could easily have carried the weight of that background like a burden — instead, he embraced the grind, won the Osasuna supporters over immediately, and delivered seven goals in a season where the club only survived relegation on the final day. That character matters.
Iraola himself has driven this transfer. The Basque coach knows exactly what he wants: pace, directness, and players who press without being asked twice. Muñoz ticks every box. Furthermore, Iraola’s track record of developing attacking talent at Bournemouth convinced the Anfield hierarchy that this isn’t just a short-term fix — it’s an investment in a player who hasn’t come close to his ceiling yet.
Faster Than Mbappé — The Stats Behind the Hype
Here’s where it gets genuinely jaw-dropping. According to LaLiga Football Intelligence and Performance data, Muñoz clocked the joint-third fastest speed in LaLiga this season at 35.46 km/h. That means he left Kylian Mbappé — clocked at 35.24 km/h — in his dust. Lamine Yamal managed 33.55 km/h. Raw pace like that has been desperately missing at Anfield.
Beyond the speed, Muñoz attempted 215 take-ons last season — only Yamal (285) and Vinícius Júnior (241) attempted more across all of LaLiga. He also registered 103 crosses, ranking fifth in the division. At just 5ft 7in, he uses his low centre of gravity brilliantly, making him almost impossible to dispossess. Dani Carvajal — a World Cup winner — couldn’t take the ball off him when Real Madrid faced Osasuna. He even out-jumped towering Villarreal defender Rafa Marín to score a LaLiga goal. The kid is something else.
The caveat? With only two assists and 27 chances created — 77th in LaLiga — his final-third output needs to sharpen. Nevertheless, those numbers came at a side fighting for survival. Surrounded by Liverpool-quality teammates and playing in a title-chasing system, that output should climb significantly.
World Cup Pedigree Confirms What Liverpool Already Know
Muñoz isn’t just a domestic curiosity — he’s already a fully-capped Spain international who scored on his debut in March. The fact that Luis de la Fuente has taken him to the 2026 World Cup despite an end-of-season injury, with Yamal and Nico Williams themselves carrying fitness doubts, speaks volumes about the regard in which he’s held at international level.
Since losing Sadio Mané, Luis Díaz and now Salah, Liverpool have consistently recruited players who prefer central roles. Muñoz brings genuine width back to Merseyside — that explosiveness and ability to beat a man in one-on-one situations that unlocks stubborn defences. At €40 million for a World Cup winger who runs faster than Mbappé? Liverpool have stolen a march on the entire market.
