With ManU's existing kit deal now regarded as "outdated and undervalued," sources close to U.S. owners, the Glazer family, believe that "they are capable of a securing a 'billion dollar deal'" -- £600m ($989M) -- "when they agree their next kit contract," according to Mark Ogden of the London TELEGRAPH. ManU must hand Nike the opportunity to match any deal offered by a rival sportswear manufacturer after giving adidas, Puma and Warrior the chance to enter the race to supply the club's kit from the '15-16 season. With ManU attempting to secure a kit deal worth more than £65M ($107M) annually to replace their current £23.5M ($38.7M) agreement with Nike -- the deal began in '02 and expires in '15 -- Nike "remains in pole position to retain the contract" due to pre-existing clauses handing Nike the option to "match any offer submitted by another brand." Sources close to the discussions "remain confident that Nike will ultimately strike an agreement" with ManU "due to the success of the partnership to date." Real Madrid's £31M ($51M) annual deal with adidas is "currently the world's biggest football kit contract and United are widely expected to at least double that." ManU's decision to open the door for adidas, Puma and Warrior "has led to the prospect of a bidding war for the kit contract." Puma and Warrior "are not regarded as serious rivals to Nike," however, leaving adidas as the only credible competition. Behind Real Madrid, Arsenal has the second biggest kit deal -- £30M ($49M) with Puma. The other top kit deals include Barcelona (£26.3M/$43M, Nike), Liverpool (£25M/$41M, Warrior), ManU (£23.5M, Nike), Bayern Munich (£22M/$36M, adidas), Chelsea (£20M/$33M, adidas) and Man City (£12M/$19M, Nike) (TELEGRAPH, 1/30).
