Newcastle's £60m sponsorship deal complicates Man City's pursuit of Sandro Tonali

Manchester City’s hopes of signing Sandro Tonali have been complicated by a £60m sponsorship deal that reduces Newcastle United’s urgency to sell the Italian midfielder this summer.

Newcastle have agreed a front-of-shirt partnership with South African company KNOX Hydration, believed to be worth around £60m in total, according to the Chronicle. KNOX already hold a £6m-per-year training ground arrangement with the club, and the new shirt deal is structured to contribute approximately £10m in the 2026/27 season before rising to £25m per year across the two seasons that follow.

The financial boost arrives at a significant moment for Newcastle. Having missed out on European football, the club had appeared likely to sanction a high-profile departure to balance the books. Anthony Gordon has already left for Barcelona in a £69m deal, but the injection of sponsorship revenue means Newcastle are no longer under the same pressure to move Tonali on.

City’s primary midfield target remains Elliot Anderson, Tonali’s former Newcastle teammate, with two bids for the Scotland international rejected before the World Cup began. Tonali represents an alternative option, though Tottenham — who held talks with his representatives — currently appear to be in the stronger position for the 25-year-old.

Spurs manager Roberto De Zerbi has been active in the transfer market, already bringing in Andy Robertson, Marcos Senesi and Brighton’s Jan Paul van Hecke. The van Hecke deal, confirmed on Wednesday, also has implications for Croatian defender Luka Vuskovic, whose future was closely linked to that £52m move, with Brighton having bids for him rejected by Spurs.

Elsewhere, the future of City midfielder Rodri is subject to speculation, with a move to Real Madrid floated as a possibility if the Spanish club fail to land either Enzo Fernandez or Mateus Fernandes. Bernardo Silva has already joined Real Madrid on a free transfer.

Manchester United have also been linked with Anderson, though the Etihad Stadium is currently considered his most likely destination. Arsenal, yet to complete any summer signings, are now actively pursuing Leicester City youngster Jeremy Monga, with Bournemouth’s Eli Junior Kroupi, PSG’s Bradley Barcola and Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers also mentioned as potential attacking targets.