Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Paul Gorst

Court date confirmed for Liverpool kit deal dispute with New Balance as Nike watch on

Liverpool's High Court meeting with kit manufacturers New Balance is set for Friday October 18.

The Reds will head into court with the Boston-based sports brand to settle the dispute over whether or not New Balance will continue their partnership with the champions of Europe.

Liverpool are understood to be pushing for terms closer to Manchester United's £75m-a-year deal they struck up with Adidas back in 2014.

New Balance currently cough up £45m annually, with this season's strip the final instalment of their current arrangement.

The Reds are understood to be close to a deal with American giants Nike, although New Balance believe their 'matching clause' enables them to carry on as Liverpool's kit manufacturers if they put up the same terms as their rivals.

A High Court date has been set to decide the logo on Liverpool's kit next season.

The ECHO understands the trial will begin on Friday October 18 and will last for three days, finishing on Tuesday October 22.

A Liverpool spokesman said last month: "We can confirm that our kit supplier, New Balance, has commenced a legal dispute against the club.

"We will not be making any further comment during these legal proceedings."

* Follow live updates from the High Court case over the Nike-New Balance dispute in our live blog on Friday morning HERE

The partnership has been an extremely successful one for New Balance, both creatively and commercially, with the last two editions of Liverpool's kit sitting first and second as the highest sellers of all time at Anfield.

Such was the demand for the 2018/19 kit , Liverpool moved to establish a pre-order system, which was set up in anticipation of stock replenishment.

That was until this season's strip outsold its 17/18 counterpart to take the mantle as the most successful kit in Liverpool history.

Liverpool feel their current status as European champions under Jurgen Klopp enables them to argue for improved terms, however, as they attempt to secure the most lucrative kit contract in the club's history.

New Balance took over from off-shoot company Warrior in 2015 and want to further their association with the Reds beyond the end of this season.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.