Liverpool have been taken to the High Court by current kit manufacturer New Balance over a dispute regarding the future of the Reds’ kit designers as a lucrative deal with Nike is waiting in the wings, according to James Pearce at The Athletic.

Jurgen Klopp’s side have been wearing the ‘NB’ logo on their shirts since the start of the 2015-16 season, throughout a spell of undoubted growth and success for a side that’s gone from strength-to-strength, ending last season on 97 Premier League points, one shy of Manchester City’s total, and lifting the Champions League crown just weeks after that.

It’s been reported that the Reds had a potential kit deal in place with Nike worth £70m per season, but New Balance are reportedly arguing their case for continuing their relationship with the current league leaders.

They claim that they have a clause in their contract which allows them to extend their manufacturing rights of Liverpool’s kits beyond May 2020 if they match the price agreed with competitors.

The Boston-based company are determined to keep their high-profile client on the books, but Liverpool are disputing the claim, and so the two will have their say in the High Court where the matter will be resolved.

Nike’s deal with Liverpool would see the Reds earn £25m more per year than their current deal, a huge increase on original revenues, but New Balance are “desperately trying to stop Liverpool from cutting their ties“.

A Liverpool spokesperson revealed: “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”.

Fans of the European Champions may well be excited by the prospect of their shirts being sponsored by one of the most exciting kit manufacturers in world football, who currently produce shirts for Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea, with shirts that are generally met with great reviews, but there’s still a serious chance New Balance will get further opportunities to appear on the famous red kit at Anfield.