This Daniel Munoz setback will bring back some very painful memories for Newcastle.
The club missed out on a number of first-choice targets last summer, including Hugo Ekitike, who also opted to join Liverpool.
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There are one or two parallels with that particular failed pursuit.
Whether it was the manner in which news of Newcastle entering advanced talks first emerged, from a third party, or how Liverpool quietly entered the race, it felt a little familiar in the end.
There was a degree of caution inside Newcastle last week at a time when even sources at Osasuna stressed a formal bid had not even been received.
But to then miss out on Munoz is a hammer blow for the club, who have set out to strike early and learn lessons from last year’s turbulent window.
Although Newcastle will move on to other targets, Munoz had been identified as the man they believed could be Gordon’s long-term replacement.
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Understandably so.
In the right hands, and with time, he is blessed with all the raw ingredients to one day flourish in the Premier League – not least his lightning pace.
However, as was the case with Ekitike, Newcastle will now have to watch on from afar as he pitches up at Anfield.
