How Liverpool won race for Victor Munoz.
🚩 Newcastle were convinced he was joining them
🚩 Landscaped changed with Iraola's phone call to player crucial
🚩 LFC in contact with Spaniard's camp for months
🚩 Payment terms and no buyback clause for Real
https://t.co/hYPO3caFzS
🚨Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha has hit 14 MILLION Instagram followers since his performance against Spain.
As a reminder, he was on 50,000 followers before the World Cup, and now he's nearly surpassed Manuel Neuer, the greatest goalkeeper of all time.
The influence of the World Cup is absolutely CRAZY. 📲🤯
Most attempted dribbles in a single match in Europe's top five leagues (2025/26):
◉ 21 - Víctor Muñoz (vs Rayo Vallecano)
◎ 20 - Azzedine Ounahi (vs Atletico Madrid)
◎ 19 - Lamine Yamal (vs Levante)
Most successful dribbles in a single match in Europe's top five leagues (2025/26):
◉ 12 - Víctor Muñoz (vs Rayo Vallecano)
◎ 11 - Lamine Yamal (vs Real Sociedad)
◎ 11 - Azzedine Ounahi (vs Atletico Madrid)
6 - Andoni Iraola has never lost a Premier League match against Newcastle United in six previous meetings (W3 D3). No manager has faced the Magpies more often without suffering defeat.
Familiar.
🚨 𝗡𝗘𝗪: Bayern Munich are now prepared to ask MORE for Michael Olise than the €222M that was paid for Neymar, this is what sources in Germany confirm.
— @jfelixdiaz
❤️ What a story this is. 🇨🇻
Just days after Vozinha broke down in tears revealing his mother couldn't afford to travel to the World Cup, his dream is now set to come true. 🥹
She is completing the final paperwork and is expected to fly to the United States in the coming hours, with plans to be in the stands for Cape Verde's historic clash with Uruguay this weekend. ✈️🇺🇸
Imagine seeing a World Cup embrace between mother and son. Football really can be special. ❤️
Liverpool targeted Muñoz for his ability to play left wing, right wing, and center-forward, with his versatility ensuring Rio Ngumoha will still get opportunities in the first team 😳✅
(@JacobsBen)
🇪🇦 Víctor Muñoz (22,LW) signed officially for Liverpool for a fee of €40M.
💰 Osasuna will receive €20M.
💰 Real Madrid will receive €20M (hold 50% of a future sale).
First interesting signing in Iraola era..😍
Yankuba Minteh vs Yan Diomande: Volatile Power vs Intelligent Engine
If Víctor Muñoz is a specialist accelerator, Minteh is closer to an Andoni Iraola winger: vertical, duel-heavy, aggressive without the ball.
Creation via carries (95th). Dribbling (94th). Productive dribbles (94th). Progressive carries (93rd). Carry xThreat (95th). Deep carries (97th). Minteh receives wide, drives early, forces retreat, and turns the touchline into a launch lane. For Liverpool, the effect is immediate. Wirtz gets a runner beyond the line. Isak gets attacks before the centre-backs are set. Gravenberch gets a release valve.
The regain side is where Minteh stands out. Active defending (58th), tackles plus interceptions (93rd), defensive ground duels won (80th), and defensive ground duel rate (86th). This is contact, bite and repeat work.
But against Diomande, raw voltage is not enough.
Final product (98th vs 60th), shooting volume (83rd vs 29th), own-shot generation (82nd vs 39th), finishing quality (99th vs 23rd), creation via passes (99th vs 26th), progression (97th vs 49th), pass accuracy (99th vs 6th), and Total VAEP (100th vs 64th).
Minteh’s first action can wreck a defensive shape. Diomande controls the sequence after the first defender is beaten. Wirtz and Isak need the runner, but they also need the move to survive after the take-on.
The Liverpool logic is simple, and the hierarchy is clear. Minteh does work as a right-sided lightning rod. Yet his pass security and inconsistent connective play increase the need for a serious 6. Liverpool cannot stack that much front-line voltage without a stabiliser behind it. Minteh just makes it harder to ignore.
Minteh gives Liverpool the surge.
Diomande keeps the light on.
Liverpool have confirmed the signing of winger Victor Munoz from Osasuna for €40m. Move subject to work permit/international clearance.
Six-year contract and he becomes the first signing of Andoni Iraola's reign as head coach.
https://t.co/uDtpOVcCDC
🚨 BREAKING: RB Leipzig turn down €100m proposal received from Liverpool for Yan Diomandé.
RB Leipzig want more than €100m as still try to keep him — understand €120m could be the way… for now, based on WC performances too.
Leipzig expect PSG and more clubs to join the race.
€90m plus €10m from Liverpool not enough, as @philipphinze24 reported.
More on Víctor Muñoz and Liverpool. #LFC have triggered Muñoz's €40m clause with the fee to be paid in two instalments.
Richard Hughes and Michael Edwards worked discretely for some time in order to pull off the deal.
Newcastle were in advanced talks, but Liverpool also won the race ahead of interest from Manchester United and Bayer Leverkusen.
And Real Madrid explored bringing Muñoz back but concerns over playing time made this a non-starter.
Muñoz was discussed with Andoni Iraola in early squad planning conversations allowing the club to move quickly.
The appeal is in Muñoz's ability to play left and right wing as well as centre-forward.
This versatility also makes Liverpool feel Rio Ngumoha will still to get opportunities.
Medical done on Wednesday after permission granted by the RFEF with Liverpool staff flying out to the United States.
Muñoz has agreed a six-year contract.
Meanwhile, it is likely Federico Chiesa departs, even though his style is well-suited to Iraola's system. Italian is looking for regular minutes.🔴
Liverpool will sign another attacker/winger in addition to Victor Muñoz.
Optimism remains on Yan Diomande, but due to competition with PSG, and Leipzig's asking price, there are other targets.
Understand pace is the key criteria.
Also on the list are Köln's Said El Mala, Brighton's Yankuba Minteh and Lille's Matias Fernandez-Pardo.
All options in case Diomande doesn't arrive.
Bradley Barcola another player Liverpool have looked at this summer.🔴
Víctor Muñoz brings a lot to the table. Direct, quick and decent with the ball at his feet. He is still VERY raw and has lots to improve but the versatility and promise that he is shows is exciting.
He was among the best ball carriers in La Liga (5th), a league with the likes of Yamal, Vini, Kubo etc.
But it's the action after these carries that needs improvement. As can be seen in the visuals below, he gets the ball into the box (high penetration rating) but most of the crosses/passes he puts after that are unsuccessful. While he has had some success from the left, his passing from the right has been mostly unsuccessful.
A couple of positive things (footnotes of the carrying card):
-0.21 xT per 90 from his carrying alone.
-High Speed rating, covers an average of 3.8m with a median carry time of 3s. Really good at those long strides/carries in space.
(1/7)
📊 If you're wondering why Liverpool are willing to invest €40m in Victor Muñoz, this breakdown should be well worth your time.
Elite ball carrying, high volume dribbling, major attacking responsibility, and a profile that fits exactly what Liverpool have been targeting.
Read on my Substack now, please subscribe to support my work 👇
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