LONDON, January 29 – Manchester United have started talks with “multiple parties” as they attempt to secure a lucrative new kit manufacturing contract, the Premier League champions announced on Tuesday.
Their current 13-year deal with Nike, worth £303 million ($502 million, 368 million euros), is due to end in 2015 and an exclusivity period enabling the US sportswear manufacturer to negotiate a new deal has now expired.
“We are currently in discussions with multiple parties regarding our global retail, apparel and product licensing business, starting in the 2015-16 season,” United said in a statement.
“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.”
United’s commercial income has increased from £152 million to £46.2 million since the first season of the Nike contract and will swell even further this year when a new shirt sponsorship deal with Chevrolet begins.
German companies Adidas and Puma and American sportswear firm Warrior have all expressed an interest in taking over the contract from Nike, according to reports in the British media.
