ManU is expected to "secure a world-record shirt deal" worth in excess of £65M ($108M) a year within six months after handing adidas, Warrior and Puma "the opportunity to replace Nike as their kit supplier," according to Mark Ogden of the London TELEGRAPH. ManU’s £23.5M ($39M) annual deal with Nike started in '02-03 and expires at the end of the '14-15 campaign. No agreement has been reached on a new contract, despite Nike "enjoying a six-month period of exclusivity on negotiations between February and August 2013." A source close club owner the Glazers said ManU is capable of landing “a billion dollar deal” -- £600M -- to replace the Nike contract. Talks "are taking place" with adidas, Warrior and Puma "to gauge their interest in striking the biggest kit deal in football history." A ManU spokesperson said, “We currently are in discussions with multiple parties regarding our Global Retail, Apparel & Product Licensing business starting in the 2015/16 Season. This process is a routine practice used for our global and regional sponsorship deals and helps us maximise the value/structure of the Club’s partnerships” (TELEGRAPH, 1/28).
OPEN HOUSE: In London, Ian Ladyman reported adidas was "first through the door at Old Trafford this week," spending Monday outlining their plans to ManU Commercial Dir Richard Arnold and his team. Officials from Warrior -- who pay £25M ($42M) a year to supply Liverpool’s kit -- spent all day at the club Monday while Puma is "expected to attend meetings on Wednesday." ManU and Nike "have had some serious disagreements over the way a new contract would be structured in the last two weeks and it is this that has opened the door" for adidas and others (DAILY MAIL, 1/28).
