Newcastle United are expected to announce a new sleeve sponsor for the 2018/19 campaign next month. The Magpies had Indian tyre firm Madras Rubber Factor Limited (MRF) on their shirt sleeves during the 2017/18 season, but the deal was only for 12 months. Arsenal announced a £10million-a-year partnership with Visit Rwanda last month, the most-lucrative sleeve deal signed by a Premier League club so far. Although Newcastle cannot hope to agree such lucrative terms with their next sponsors, the Magpies are confident they will receive a higher figure from their next deal - which could be a multi-year contract, rather than for a solitary season as it was this time around. It is understood that at least five firms have shown an interest in taking over from MRF, while the Indian firm have not ruled out extending their deal either. Last season was the first time top-flight clubs were permitted to emblazon sponsors on their sleeves, but the experiment has proven to be a successful one. Sporting Group International, who are experts in sports marketing, have conducted research and determined that sleeve sponsors will be worth an average of £8m per club, per season, going forward. If Newcastle can secure a seven-figure sum per annum for their sleeve sponsorship, then it will mark another area of commercial growth for the Magpies. The 27th Annual Review of Football Finance from the Sports Business Group at Deloitte stressed earlier this month that commercial revenue is the most-important area for club’s to focus on increasing in order to give them a competitive advantage over their rivals. “As a key source of revenue under a club’s control, commercial revenue is the area where clubs have the greatest opportunity to differentiate themselves from their competitors,” the reports read. “The development and exploitation of commercial opportunities over the next 10 years is therefore the key growth opportunity for clubs. “Whilst for broadcasting rights, clubs act collectively, they are in a fiercely competitive market for commercial deals. “As a result, this market has become increasingly crowded, with clubs at all levels offering commercial partners multiple entry opportunities at a wide variety of price points. “The result is a lack of clarity and an advantageous position for the commercial partner, who can play any potential suitors off against each other in order to drive the price down.” Chinese betting company Fun88, who are the Magpies’ headline sponsors, are 12 months into a three-year deal and will once again feature on the front of the home, away and third kits in 2018/19. The Fun88 contract, announced last summer, is the most-lucrative shirt-sponsorship deal in Newcastle’s history.
Newcastle United aims to reveal its new shirt sleeve sponsor in the coming weeks. The club's contract with Indian tyre manufacturer MRF will expire just 12 months after it was agreed. Although MRF could potentially renew its contract, Newcastle is in talks with around five other companies. A deal for a long-term sponsorship has been agreed between the club and the company which manufactures the tyres used by Premier League clubs including Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal. shirt sleeve deal with Visit Rwanda.