Post by Reuben on Dec 13, 2005 6:04:54 GMT -5
MANCHESTER UNITED have opened talks with Arsenal's current shirt sponsors in a bid to land a new £15million-a-year deal.
The News of the World can exclusively reveal that mobile phone giants O2 — who will be dumped by the Gunners in favour of airline Emirates next season — are considering a switch to United.
Talks have already started, with the reds desperate to strike a new deal after Vodafone announced last week they are pulling the plug on their £44million sponsorship after a six-year association at Old Trafford.
The bumper new contract would match Champions Chelsea's money-spinning deal with Samsung mobile and maintain the Old Trafford club's position as one of the most marketable brands in the game.
United have certainly acted quickly after learning that current sponsors Vodafone wanted to scrap their agreement with the Reds at the end of this season.
That news was only announced last week but United had been briefed weeks ago that Vodafone wanted out.
Since then, United owner Malcolm Glazer's son Brian and United director Andy Anson have opened talks with O2 head of sponsorship Paul Samuels to takeover as the name on the front of one of the most famous football shirts in the world.
United are again using top agency Premier to orchestrate their commercial business and say that up to 30 firms have shown an interest.
Strike
But it is clear that O2 is the brand that stands out and United are keen to strike an agreement.
Chief Financial Officer Nick Humby received the initial call declaring O2's interest and United quickly spoke with Samuels, who is head of sponsorship and interactive programmes.
An insider said: "Both sides will be dismayed that the news has leaked out but"It's true they are in talks. United are champing at the bit to finalise everything quickly so they have some good news to announce after all the recent bad publicity."
The controversial departure of skipper Roy Keane and Vodafone's shock withdrawal as shirt sponsors has damaged United and they will want a "good news day" soon.
And a link-up with O2-who also sponsor the England rugby team-is seen as perfect.
O2 media relations manager Dave Massey refused to deny that the company have been in talks with United.
"We don't ever comment on rumour or speculation," he said.
"We have recently signed an agreement with Arsenal to run from 2006 to 2009 which makes us their exclusive mobile phone provider.
"The former Millennium Dome is also being renamed The 02 and that will be opening next year so we are quite happy with our existing sponsorship portfolio."
The British mobile operator-themselves being taken over by Spanish communications giants Telefonica in an £18billion sale-are being dumped as Arsenal's shirt sponsors next year.
Airline Emirates-ironically Chelsea's former shirt sponsors-will take over in a massive £90million 15-year sponsorship package which also includes the naming rights to the new 60,000-seater stadium at Ashburton Grove.
The Emirates package includes an eight-year shirt sponsorship deal worth an estimated £5m a year-double O2's exisiting deal.
That will leave 02 without a frontline soccer shirt sponsorship deal-opening the door for a tie-up with United.
United have also held talks with electical giants LG, while global brands Nokia, Siemens and Pepsi have shown an interest.
United said: refused to discuss the talks and issued only a brief:"No comment. We don't talk about these issues."
The News of the World can exclusively reveal that mobile phone giants O2 — who will be dumped by the Gunners in favour of airline Emirates next season — are considering a switch to United.
Talks have already started, with the reds desperate to strike a new deal after Vodafone announced last week they are pulling the plug on their £44million sponsorship after a six-year association at Old Trafford.
The bumper new contract would match Champions Chelsea's money-spinning deal with Samsung mobile and maintain the Old Trafford club's position as one of the most marketable brands in the game.
United have certainly acted quickly after learning that current sponsors Vodafone wanted to scrap their agreement with the Reds at the end of this season.
That news was only announced last week but United had been briefed weeks ago that Vodafone wanted out.
Since then, United owner Malcolm Glazer's son Brian and United director Andy Anson have opened talks with O2 head of sponsorship Paul Samuels to takeover as the name on the front of one of the most famous football shirts in the world.
United are again using top agency Premier to orchestrate their commercial business and say that up to 30 firms have shown an interest.
Strike
But it is clear that O2 is the brand that stands out and United are keen to strike an agreement.
Chief Financial Officer Nick Humby received the initial call declaring O2's interest and United quickly spoke with Samuels, who is head of sponsorship and interactive programmes.
An insider said: "Both sides will be dismayed that the news has leaked out but"It's true they are in talks. United are champing at the bit to finalise everything quickly so they have some good news to announce after all the recent bad publicity."
The controversial departure of skipper Roy Keane and Vodafone's shock withdrawal as shirt sponsors has damaged United and they will want a "good news day" soon.
And a link-up with O2-who also sponsor the England rugby team-is seen as perfect.
O2 media relations manager Dave Massey refused to deny that the company have been in talks with United.
"We don't ever comment on rumour or speculation," he said.
"We have recently signed an agreement with Arsenal to run from 2006 to 2009 which makes us their exclusive mobile phone provider.
"The former Millennium Dome is also being renamed The 02 and that will be opening next year so we are quite happy with our existing sponsorship portfolio."
The British mobile operator-themselves being taken over by Spanish communications giants Telefonica in an £18billion sale-are being dumped as Arsenal's shirt sponsors next year.
Airline Emirates-ironically Chelsea's former shirt sponsors-will take over in a massive £90million 15-year sponsorship package which also includes the naming rights to the new 60,000-seater stadium at Ashburton Grove.
The Emirates package includes an eight-year shirt sponsorship deal worth an estimated £5m a year-double O2's exisiting deal.
That will leave 02 without a frontline soccer shirt sponsorship deal-opening the door for a tie-up with United.
United have also held talks with electical giants LG, while global brands Nokia, Siemens and Pepsi have shown an interest.
United said: refused to discuss the talks and issued only a brief:"No comment. We don't talk about these issues."
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