In August 2021, Newcastle United completed the signing of Santiago Muñoz from Mexican side Santos Laguna on an 18-month loan deal with an option to buy.
Since arriving at the Tyneside club, the forward has made appearances for their U21 and U23 side. He has not been handed opportunities to represent the Magpies senior team so far.
The 20-year-old’s temporary deal with the Premier League club will expire at the end of next month and there is no clarity over what Newcastle plan to do with him.
In fact, the Mexico U23 international’s parent club are also not sure where he will play next year. This has been confirmed by Santos Laguna manager, Eduardo Fentanes.
“The Santi thing is a subject that (…) he ends his relationship [with Newcastle United] 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,” Fentanes said, as quoted by El Siglo de Torreón.
“It will be necessary to see what happens, but the reality is that it is not at all clear about what can happen with him. We have the advantage of already knowing him and we will have to wait for what happens when his relationship ends, which is December.”
The Mexican club manager further stressed it will only be clear where Muñoz’s future lies after Eddie Howe’s side make a decision on whether to make his stay permanent.
“He continues to have a commitment there, until it is resolved, we will not have clarity about what could happen with 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,” Fentanes explained.
El Siglo de Torreón explain the attacker has not convinced Newcastle. Therefore, Howe’s side will not be exercising the buying option. This means Muñoz will have to return to Santos Laguna and then decide whether to stay with them or move elsewhere.
