Manchester United’s current Adidas kit deal is worth £750 million, but that deal could be broken by Liverpool when the Premier League 2020-21 season kicks off.
Liverpool’s current kit deal with New Balance runs out at the end of next season and they are already looking at options from kit manufacturers.
The Reds have worn New Balance produced kits since 2015. The American company took over from Warrior, who had unseated Liverpool’s longtime kit supplier Adidas previously.
Who will be Liverpool’s new kit supplier?
According to reports, Nike and Liverpool have held negotiations with the American company willing to break the bank to land the Reds.
Nike currently pays Barcelona £100m a season to supply kits for the famous Spanish club. Although Liverpool’s deal would not eclipse Barcelona’s it would become the richest in Premier League history.
Perhaps the biggest issue with Nike taking over Liverpool’s kit manufacturing deal would lie in the relationship Fenway Sports Group has with New Balance.
New Balance also produces some of the Boston Red Sox apparel although they do not supply game-day uniforms for the baseball team.
Liverpool’s current deal signed in 2015 is worth £300m, or £45m a season.
New Balance due have a clause in its contract with Liverpool allowing it to match any amount offered by Nike or any other kit provider.
How close is Liverpool to a new kit deal?
Reports indicate Nike and Liverpool are “in advanced talks”, so news of an official deal could be released by the end of the season.
Liverpool are not just speaking with Nike and New Balance, however. The Reds have also held discussions with Adidas and Puma as they seek the largest kit supplier deal possible.
Research conducted by Liverpool indicate they can command a kit deal contract of equal or greater value than Manchester United due to their history, success, and potential.
The club’s success and the marketing potential of its star players make it a more lucrative team for a large kit deal than Manchester United currently.
According to ESPN, Liverpool announced record-breaking financial figures in February. The club posted a pre-tax profit of £125m for the year ending May 2018.
