Arsenal Reportedly Negotiating Adidas Kit Deal Worth over £40M Per Year

Arsenal and Adidas are reportedly in "advanced negotiations" over a kit deal worth in excess of £40 million per year. 

According to Sami Mokbel of the Daily Mail, talks between the club and the German kit manufacturer are "well under way," with Arsenal's current £30 million-per-season deal with Puma due to expire in 2019.

Puma is said to have the option to match any competing offer, but Adidas is putting much more on the table than the club are provided with and could improve its offer further should Arsenal qualify for the UEFA Champions League.

The Gunners have one foot in the semi-finals of the UEFA Europa League after beating CSKA Moscow 4-1 in the first leg of the quarter-final. Winning the competition is their only realistic route to rejoining Europe's elite, as they're 13 points off fourth place in the Premier League with six matches remaining.

The lucrative deal on offer from Adidas would still leave the Gunners trailing the £75 million yearly sum paid by the sportswear giant to Manchester United as part of their deal, as well as the annual £60 million Chelsea receive from Nike.

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Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City respectively receive £30 million and £20 million per season from Nike, though, so the Gunners could get a leg up on two of their rivals, at least.

Arsenal are also said to be pursuing a shirt-sleeve sponsor for the first time, in a bid to further increase their commercial revenue.

The Gunners' frugality has contributed to their decline in recent years, though they have shown willingness to splash the cash in the transfer market of late. Alexandre Lacazette became their record signing when he joined for £52.7 million last summer, and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's £60 million arrival broke that record in January.

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While there are a number of factors that have caused Arsenal to slip out of regular UEFA Champions League qualification via their league finish, increasing their revenue would help them better compete financially with their rivals.

That money needs to be invested wisely if it's to improve them on the pitch, but it bodes well for the club if they're able to negotiate a more lucrative deal despite some disappointing results and performances from the team.