According to reports from The Express this morning, Chelsea are hoping their kit deal with Adidas can give them the upper hand in the race to sign Athletic Bilbao prodigy Aymeric Laporte.
The young defender is considered to be amongst La Liga’s hottest prospects, having already registered 76 top flight appearances for the Basque outfit – including 27 this season – at just 20 years of age.
His progress over the last few years has attracted the attention of the Premier League’s top clubs, with Arsenal, Manchester United and Manchester City all linked in a separate report from The Express earlier this week.
But it appears Chelsea now want to muscle in, using their kit deal with Adidas (worth £300million according to reports from summer 2013) as leverage around the negotiating table.
Adidas are also Laporte’s boot sponsors, and they’re keen to see the France U21 at Stamford Bridge next season.
Even so, Athletic Bilbao president Jose Urrutia has publicly insisted any potential suitor will need to activate the centre-back’s £30million release clause to sign him this summer – as quoted in the second Express report.
Now that makes sense???? NOT. Who are Utd’s new kit suppliers?
This is a bit stupid. As letrip says, United have a new kit deal with adidas. But just how could this be used as leverage? Look, our kit will match your boots so you must sign.