Newcastle United are aggressively stepping up their efforts in the summer transfer market as they look to secure a high-profile replacement for Anthony Gordon. The Magpies have firmly set their sights on CA Osasuna’s rising star VÃctor Muñoz, with reports from Spain indicating that the Tyneside club is now on the verge of activating the player’s multi-million euro release clause to beat out mounting continental competition.
The urgency behind Newcastle’s transfer business stems from the sudden departure of Anthony Gordon, who completed a blockbuster move to Barcelona in May.
Gordon’s exit left a massive creative void on the left flank of Eddie Howe’s attacking system, forcing the recruitment team at St. James’ Park to identify a dynamic, high-ceiling winger capable of making an immediate impact in the Premier League. Muñoz’s tactical profile, exceptional work rate, and explosive pace have placed him at the very top of Howe’s summer wishlist.
Earlier this month, Sport Witness covered claims emerging from the Spanish media revealing that Newcastle United had already tabled a formal opening offer of €35 million plus performance-related bonuses.
The 22-year-old winger has reportedly been highly receptive to the proposal, expressing an enthusiastic willingness to seal a lucrative move to the Premier League and buy into the ambitious sporting project currently unfolding under Newcastle’s wealthy ownership group.
Muñoz’s rapid ascent in European football is nothing short of remarkable. The La Liga outfit paid just €5 million to secure his services from Real Madrid in July 2025, a fee that now looks like an absolute bargain.
The highly-rated attacker enjoyed a spectacular debut campaign in Pamplona, finishing the season with a highly respectable return of seven goals and five assists from 37 appearances across all competitions, establishing himself as one of the most exciting young talents in Spain.
His impressive domestic performances had previously caught the attention of Newcastle’s bitter local rivals, Sunderland. The Black Cats were so enamored with the young Spaniard that they launched an aggressive pursuit during the winter transfer window, submitting a concrete package worth up to €25 million in January. However, both Osasuna and Muñoz flatly rejected the Wearside club’s advances, choosing instead to focus on finishing the La Liga campaign strongly.
While it remains completely unclear whether Régis Le Bris’ side are still monitoring the winger’s situation, their fierce Tyne-Wear rivals are now doing everything in their power to wrap up a deal. Wednesday’s printed edition of Noticias de Navarra heavily emphasizes that Newcastle United are pushing with immense intensity to finalize the transfer as quickly as possible, outlining the specific strategic planning behind the Magpies’ sudden transfer blitz.
According to the Spanish publication, Newcastle’s primary objective is to avoid a prolonged transfer saga that could attract other European heavyweights into the equation. Muñoz has been included in the Spain international squad for this summer’s highly anticipated World Cup finals in North America. The Tyneside hierarchy are acutely aware that if the young attacker puts in a series of eye-catching performances on the global stage, his market value will skyrocket and trigger a massive bidding war.
To completely mitigate this scenario, Newcastle United are looking to expedite the entire deal and secure his signature while the World Cup tournament is actively ongoing. The English side want the paperwork signed, sealed, and delivered before rival clubs have the opportunity to disrupt negotiations. Their current financial offer is incredibly close to meeting the required valuation, sitting just a few million euros shy of Muñoz’s official €40 million buyout clause.
CA Osasuna, however, are playing hardball in negotiations and refuse to be shortchanged. The Spanish club’s board is standing completely firm, consistently referring Newcastle’s negotiators back to the mandatory €40 million release clause written into the player’s contract. In short, if the Magpies want to bypass any bureaucratic delays and guarantee the transfer, they simply need to slightly improve their initial €35 million plus add-ons package to meet the clause in full.
Adding a fascinating layer of complexity to the entire multi-million euro transfer saga is the absolute silence coming from Real Madrid. When Los Blancos sanctioned Muñoz’s departure to Osasuna last summer, they wisely retained a massive 50 percent sell-on clause alongside a favorable buyback option. Theoretically, the reigning Champions League holders possess the contractual power to veto a move to Newcastle United if they intend to bring him back to the Santiago Bernabéu.
As of right now, the hierarchy in Madrid have chosen not to reveal their hand, leaving both Newcastle and Osasuna guessing as to what their final decision regarding the winger will be. In the highly likely event of a mega-money sale to England, Real Madrid stand to benefit massively from a financial standpoint, which represents the primary reason why Osasuna are strictly demanding the full release clause from Newcastle to ensure they retain a healthy profit for themselves.
Muñoz’s current contract in Spain is set to run until June 2030, handing Osasuna immense leverage in any discussions. While his current market valuation on industry website Transfermarkt sits at a cool €30 million, his true value to Eddie Howe is significantly higher given the desperate need for a proven goal-scoring threat on the wings. Newcastle fans will be tracking Spain’s World Cup fixtures with a watchful eye, hoping the club can finalize this crucial piece of summer business before the rest of Europe wakes up to Muñoz’s immense potential.
