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Expert insight from Spain
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Newcastle look set for a busy summer transfer window after a disappointing season saw them finish 12th in the Premier League. The Magpies have already confirmed the signing of goalkeeper Ewen Jaouen from Stade Reims, and are now closing in on a LaLiga winger. Reports suggest that Newcastle are confident of sealing the signing of Osasuna winger Víctor Muñoz for a package thought to be over €30 million. Muňoz's former club Real Madrid, where he came through the youth ranks, do have a 50% sell-on clause as well as a buy-back clause, but Newcastle are optimistic to get the deal done.
Last summer, Newcastle splashed out €279m on new signings after the sale of Alexander Isak to Liverpool for a Premier League record fee, but many of their attacking acquisitions flattered to deceive. Nick Woltemade, Anthony Elanga, and Yoane Wissa all failed to have a much of an impact in their first season at St James' Park, although the former did start well. Nevertheless, Eddie Howe is set to be handed more funds this summer, and will be hoping Muňoz can add a new dimension to their attack. With expert insight from our team in Spain, we bring you more on the 22 year old.
What type of player is Víctor Muñoz?
As illustrated above, Muňoz managed six goals and two assists in 34 LaLiga games in his first season for Osasuna. He signed for the club from Real Madrid for just €5m last summer. Despite progressing through the academy ranks in the capital since the age of 17, Muňoz was actually born in Barcelona and even had a very brief spell playing for Barca youth team in 2017 - when he was 13. Last season, his market value steadily rose all the way from €5m to €30m as he continued to impress with his direct dribbling and counter-attacking threat. He also scored on his senior Spain debut back in March against Serbia.
Iván Fuente is Transfermarkt's Content Manager in Spain and tells us more about Muňoz's style of play and his strengths: "He is a powerful winger, very fast and explosive. He is right-footed, but can play on either wing and even behind the striker if necessary. He likes to make runs into space. He performs better when he has space to run into rather than in tight defensive situations. He reminds me of those old-school wingers: fast and skillful. He is also dedicated to defensive duties. Probably his biggest weakness is his height (1.73m), but for his kind of play, it's not a big problem. His general play is very similar to the now departed Anthony Gordon. He could be a good replacement for Gordon. They have several things in common, and since Victor is younger and might be cheaper, this is a good opportunity to see him play in the Premier League."
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