Problems Over Liverpool Shirt Deal - 02/05/2005

Liverpool may not be able to produce replica shirts in time for the start of next season if it does not secure a new sponsorship deal soon to replace that with Carlsberg. Liverpool is expected to eventually sign with LG, the Korean electronics group, but at much less than the £6m a year Carlsberg deal. Getting to the Champions League final should help. Meanwhile, Chelsea have comcluded a lucrative £50m a year shirt sponsorship deal with mobile and electronics firm Samsung. They turned to the South Korean firm after talks with Nokia foundered over the mobile phone company's demands. German industrial giant Siemens were also in the frame but were regarded as less serious contenders. Chelsea is in the last year of four year £24m deal with airline Emirates who are becoming the sponsors of Arsenal's new Ashburton Grove stadium. Chelsea also recently changed its kit sponsor, giving a £24.5m pay-off to Umbro in order to end the contract at the end of next season. Adidas then came in to secure an estimated £100m ten year deal.