Sportswear companies Adidas, Nike and Warrior remain in the running to become the next kit partner of English Premier League football club Manchester United, according to the BBC Sport website.
United’s current deal with Nike, worth £24m (€30m/$41m) per year, will expire at the end of the 2014-15 season. Nike remains in talks over extending its deal with the club, but the company is facing competition, and although Adidas refused to confirm the report, Warrior revealed that it was in discussions. Puma is not thought to be among the contenders.
The report added that a world-record 10-year deal worth a total of £600m had been discussed. Such a figure would be considerably higher than the £31m per year paid by Adidas to provide Spanish Liga club Real Madrid’s kit.
A Nike spokesperson said: “United is one of the greatest clubs in the world and we're continuing discussions with them.” Nike, which has been the club’s partner since 2002, would retain the right to match any rival offer. However, the sportswear company’s exclusive period of negotiations concluded without a deal being agreed, allowing rivals to enter the running.