Pru may take a sporting chance with United

MANCHESTER United could be set to swap one international insurer for another after Prudential Plc confirmed talks with the English and European champions.

Speculation is raging over which brand name will adorn the famous red shirt after crippled US insurer AIG said it would not be extending its £56.5m four year deal with the club when it ends in 2010.

AIG has had to be rescued by the US government with a multi-billion pound bail-out as a result of the financial crisis.

Prudential, which has a large international business, particularly in Asia – where Manchester United is massively popular – is understood to be in the frame alongside a number of other major brands for the shirt sponsorship rights.

A spokesman for the insurer said:: “We can confirm that Prudential Plc has been approached by Manchester United. We are one of a number of companies
to have spoken to them.”

Last week Indian conglomerate Tata said it had shunned the chance to enter into negotiations with the club. Other names in the frame include  AirAsia, Saudi Telecom and Sahara.

United is not the only North West club to be changing sponsor. Local rival Manchester City is set to ditch Thomas Cook for Middle Eastern airline Etihad – in the wake of the club’s takeover last year by Sheikh Mansour a member of the Abu Dhabi royal family.

A new kit deal is also likely with Nike subsidiary Umbro, after several years with Le Coq Sportif.