Liverpool will complete the signing of Spain winger Victor Muñoz, who Newcastle were in advanced talks to sign, reports Fabrizio Romano.
The Reds have the task of replacing Mohamed Salah this summer, with the legend leaving after nine years. Yan Diomande is the main player to be linked, and while those links remain, Spain winger Muñoz will reportedly be joining.
That's per transfer insider Romano, who states Liverpool have completed a hijack of Newcastle to secure the 22-year-old's services.
The Magpies had been in advanced talks for days and were hoping to get a deal wrapped up quickly, but Liverpool have stolen in, triggering the winger's €40million (£34.6m) release clause, and are set to sign him this summer.
It's a turn of events from previous reports, which stated though Liverpool and fellow Premier League big hitters Manchester United had entered the fray, Muñoz had sights on St James' Park.
Newcastle are the club who had been most keen on signing the winger for the longest, and felt they'd had positive talks with Muñoz's representatives, though they wanted to sign him for under his release clause, which has allowed Liverpool in.
Newcastle fears realised
The fears of the Magpies have been realised in Liverpool hijacking them, though not in the same way they thought.
Indeed, The Athletic reported in recent days that amid Newcastle's talks for the Osasuna winger, they were eager to quickly seal his transfer before he was able to impress on the global stage.
Indeed, Muñoz is in Spain's World Cup squad, and Eddie Howe's side wanted to bring him in before he could play a game and show other clubs that he was a player worthy of signing - a legitimate concern with the release clause and the fact they didn't want to pay it.
As it's transpired, the winger's presence at the World Cup has had nothing to do with the hijack. Yes, he is in the Spain squad, but they have played their first game, and he didn't get a look-in.
While there's a chance Muñoz will play a further part in the tournament, particularly as Spain failed to score in their opener against Cape Verde, Liverpool have stolen in before he's had chance to do so.
The seven goals and five assists the Spaniard was responsible for in his debut La Liga season have roused Liverpool enough to make him a Reds player.
Real Madrid had a buyback clause for their former academy player, but chose not to use it, and that clause is now gone once he joins Liverpool.
