Victor Munoz transfer clause hints at what Liverpool could do next as new signings targeted

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It took Andoni Iraola just a fortnight to confirm his first signing as Liverpool boss when Victor Munoz completed a £34.5m move from Osasuna last week.In one of his first dealings as Reds boss, Iraola spoke with his recruitment department to establish who they were pursuing and what profiles they were assessing.And with the club looking to move away from Arne Slot's 'kill-them-with-passes' style of the previous two seasons, Iraola's more aggressive and full-throttle approach meant that there was likely some deviation from the players who had already been established as potential targets.Attention quickly turned to Munoz, with Iraola making it known his admiration for a player who was an important part in helping Osasuna retain the La Liga status the previous season. Sporting director Richard Hughes, whose knowledge of both Italian and Spanish football is extensive, was also understood to have been impressed with the 22-year-old early career arc.And after Hugo Ekitike ruptured his Achilles in early April, it became accepted internally that the squad would need more than just the one wide player to come in for Mohamed Salah, who has now left the club after nine largely decorated years.Liverpool had long been aware of Munoz and his talents having seen him make two senior appearances at Real Madrid before becoming a full Spain international but it was the existence of a release clause that expedited the process.It's also, crucially, why it has been widely thought that Liverpool muscled in on Newcastle United's attempts to bring in Munoz at the 11th hour.Liverpool have bristled at suggestions that they did in fact 'hijack' Newcastle's bid.

A release clause would have undoubtedly sped up the process.Like it did three years earlier when Liverpool moved quickly to ensure Dominik Szoboszlai signed before his June 30 clause expired with Leipzig. Liverpool opened talks with the Hungary captain's agent, Matyas Esterhazy, in late June before club-to-club talks initially over Fabio Carvalho's loan move led to conversations over Szoboszlai.Having held a productive meeting with Esterhazy and his EM Sports firm, Liverpool learned they only had a few days left to try and trigger Szoboszlai's £60m threshold before Leipzig were able to name their own price.Liverpool were also interested in Mason Mount, then of Chelsea, but believed a deal for Szoboszlai was easier to conclude decisively rather than negotiating with the Londoners, while also believing he represented better value for money long term.Leipzig, again, were determined to keep Szoboszlai and would have asked for a higher price had Liverpool not paid the fee before the end of June.

It was really quick, he said they were interested, I said let's go, Jurgen called me and then I signed."Liverpool were also able to confirm a £29.5m move for Jeremie Frimpong from Bayer Leverkusen shortly after the season had ended last May with the Netherlands international becoming a Reds player, officially, when the transfer window opened on June 1.Leverkusen CEO Fernando Carro spoke on May 14 about Frimpong having the clause at the BayArena but said he was unaware about interest from Anfield at the time, telling German publication Sport: "Jeremie Frimpong has a long contract with us, he also has a release clause, but we are not aware of a move at the moment."The rumours surprised me a bit when I started in the football business seven years ago. The same applied to Ibrahima Konate, another former Leipzig man, when his £36m fee was met in late May of 2021.Takumi Minamino, in January of 2020, was someone was brought in to add depth to a forward line that was chasing the Premier League title at the time and it was Liverpool's belief that the Japan international was likely worth at least three times his £7m clause that was written into his Red Bull Salzburg contract at the time.Eventually sold to Monaco for more than double that fee in 2022, Minamino left as a cult hero who played his part of helping the club win the Premier League, the FA Cup and League Cup.And two years ago, the existence of a £50m clause in the contract of Bournemouth's Dean Huijsen saw Liverpool attempt a transfer before Real Madrid eventually won the chase.It's clear that, for Liverpool, such terms are desirable when it comes who they want to bring to the club.