‘Signed, sealed and delivered’ - Newcastle United make transfer decision on striker

Santiago Munoz’s time at Newcastle United is said to be coming to an end after reports in Mexico suggested a decision on his future was ‘signed, sealed and delivered’.

The Mexico Under-23s international had high hopes of making an impact in the Premier League when he joined the Magpies on an 18-month loan deal in the summer of 2021 amid comparisons with the same journey Santiago Munez made in the film ‘Goal!’. However, Munoz’s time on Tyneside has been somewhat different to what was set out in fiction after struggling to make a major impact in the Magpies second string.

After making his debut in a 4-3 win against Norwich City Under-21s last February, Munoz scored his first Magpies goal against West Brom just weeks later. A first senior appearance came as a substitute in a pre-season win against Athletic Bilbao - but opportunities during the current campaign have been limited to just four appearances and it now seems likely the Mexican will depart when his loan comes to an end next month.

Journalist Kery took the Twitter to update on Munoz’s situation, saying: “Unfortunately signed, sealed and delivered. Santiago Muñoz will not continue with Newcastle United. Fentanés has already confirmed that he is returning to Mexico and it is time to define his future since he does not have a safe place with Santos either.”

The update comes days after Santos Laguna technical director Eduardo Fentanes stated that the forward would ‘end his bond’ with the Magpies.

He told Mexican outlet El Siglo de Torreon: “The Santi thing is an issue that he ends his bond (with Newcastle) in December. He has different paths that he can take, in the end he is a player that I know well, from the whole process. We will have to see what happens, but the reality is that it is not at all clear what can happen to him.

“We have the advantage of already knowing him and we will have to wait for what happens when his bond ends, which is until December. He continues to have a commitment there, until it is resolved we will not have clarity about what can happen to him, what he is thinking too; that it would always be important to know what he is thinking, what he is planning for his career, it is a possibility that is there, but there is nothing more defined.”