Newcastle United news and transfers: We answer the big questions surrounding Newcastle after another eventful week.
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Newcastle United suffered their first major blow of the summer transfer window this week as Liverpool hijacked their move for Spanish winger Victor Munoz.
The Reds have since confirmed the signing of the 22-year-old from Osasuna despite Newcastle believing they had a deal agreed.
Newcastle are also set to announce a new front-of-shirt sponsor with The Gazette exclusively revealing KNOX Hydration have agreed a three-year deal.
Here, our sports editor, Dominic Scurr, answers the big questions surrounding Newcastle heading into the second week of the transfer window...
What happened with Victor Munoz?
Newcastle United were left stunned by Victor Munoz’s apparent late U-turn to join Liverpool from Osasuna this past week. The Magpies thought they had a deal agreed with the club, player and his representatives. They had also received the green light from Real Madrid - who held 50% of Munoz’s economic rights - to proceed with the deal.
But until pen is put to paper, nothing is official. When the situation became quiet for Newcastle earlier last week, their worst fears were realised as Liverpool had triggered Munoz’s £35million release clause and agreed a deal from under Newcastle’s nose.
Newcastle sources dispute the idea that Liverpool swooped in at the last minute, as they were always aware of the interest but had been told by Munoz’s representatives that he would join Newcastle instead. But actions speak louder than words in football, and Liverpool striking a deal for a player Newcastle had lined up as a potential Anthony Gordon replacement left the club assessing just what went wrong.
The feeling is that Newcastle had been played in order to push through the player’s preferred move to Liverpool.
Why didn’t they trigger Victor Munoz’s release clause?
That’s the big question. Liverpool made it look as though they had completely hijacked the deal by triggering the clause and agreeing the signing from under Newcastle’s nose.
But the reality is somewhat different. Newcastle had a fee agreed with Osasuna; the fact it was below the release clause, I’m told, was ‘irrelevant’ as they would have upped their offer and triggered it if necessary.
A deal agreed put Newcastle in the same position they would have been in had they triggered the clause.
Though, taking timing into account, Newcastle negotiating a fee rather than triggering the clause did give Liverpool an opportunity to strike quickly. In hindsight, would they have been better just triggering the clause early, or was Munoz always going to join Liverpool regardless? Only the player and his representatives know the real answer to that.
Who will Newcastle United target next?
It goes without saying Newcastle are targeting a left-winger to replace Gordon but will now have to assess their options after missing out on Munoz.
Lille’s Matias Fernandez-Pardo and Real Betis’ Abde Ezzalzouli have been scouted, though any interest is only tentative at this stage. Newcastle will likely look at other areas of the squad before revisiting the winger situation.
A right-back remains high on the agenda following the departures of Kieran Trippier and Emil Krafth.
Uncertainty over Sandro Tonali’s future will see the club target another midfielder, with the club also listening to offers for Joe Willock.
James Trafford is a top goalkeeper target once again should Nick Pope leave.
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Will Sandro Tonali leave the club?
It’s likely. There’s no smoke without fire and there’s simply too much noise surrounding the midfielder to ignore.
His agent has been very vocal over the prospect of Tonali leaving Newcastle this summer and has sounded out several clubs already. Tottenham Hotspur are the ones pushing to sign the Italian at the moment, but Manchester City and Arsenal are also waiting in the wings.
Tonali is also under the assumption that he will be allowed to leave Newcastle this summer after the club failed to qualify for Europe. It’s just a case of whether a club can come in and match Newcastle’s asking price, which could be worth around £100million.
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What’s the latest on the shirt sponsor?
Newcastle’s 2026/27 home shirt went on sale earlier this month to minimal fanfare without a sponsor in place.
But as revealed by The Gazette earlier this month, the club had a sponsor lined-up by the time the shirt went on sale. Now the sponsorship deal has been finalised, we revealed that KNOX Hydration would be following up on its training ground sponsorship package by becoming Newcastle’s front-of-shirt sponsor.
The three-year deal is worth around £80million in total which is more than the £70million received from the previous three-year deal with Sela - but with some caveats.
£18million is part of the training ground sponsorship package, while £60million is for the front-of-shirt sponsorship. This is broken down to £10million for the upcoming season, followed by up to £25million for seasons two and three.
There are no signs that Sela will be remaining as a key commercial partner of Newcastle following the conclusion of the shirt sponsorship deal. Sela’s association with the club had ended amicably.
Now, the club is preparing to make an official announcement regarding the new front-of-shirt sponsor and the kits to follow.
I’d expect an official announcement in that regard within the coming week.
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