Andy Murray and adidas reportedly set to split at season's end

There's a good chance Andy Murray will be leaving adidas when his contract expires at the end of the season, according to The Telegraph's Simon Briggs:

Andy Murray's long-standing partnership with his clothing sponsor Adidas is unlikely to be renewed at the end of the season, according to sources within the equipment industry, as the Scot goes in search of one last big kit deal to cover the final five years of his career.

Murray, who beat Jerzy Janowicz yesterday in his first match at the China Open, will finish with close to £15 million – including performance-related bonuses – from the five-year contract with Adidas that is due to end in December.

For their next move, though, it seems that Murray’s agents are - eyeing niche brands that would base their strategy around him - and which might even offer him equity in the company, as the American nutrition specialists Fuse Science did last year. The example of Tomas Berdych, the Czech player who broke away from the traditional tennis labels to join high-street retailer H&M, could turn out to be a precedent.

In 2010, Muzz joined the German sports apparel giant after a stint with British fashion label, Fred Perry. Can you imagine the marketing push the company would have made for him last year when he became the first British man since Perry to claim the title at SW19? Anyway, it sounds like Muzz would like to return to a smaller brand where he can be the face. While it was certainly worth the jump to adidas from a financial standpoint, the company never did anything to make him stand out from the rest - no special collections or marketing strategies. He's always looking to do things a little differently (see: the appointment of Amelie Mauresmo as head coach), so it probably didn't sit well with him to be just another baller in their stable.

Any guesses on who his new sponsor will be? I think he'll go towards fashion rather than performance. Maybe a Brit brand such as Topman, French Connection, or Burberry? Ralph Lauren, although not exactly niche, has been involved in tennis for some time and could be looking to take that next step (plus they'd most likely have the funds). Perhaps The Gap or JCrew? Clearly I'm very interested.

[Photo(s) credit: Getty Images]