According to German sports magazine, kicker, VfL Wolfsburg are on the verge of completing a deal with Nike to become their new kit manufacturer.
With the full impact of the emissions scandal engulfing their main sponsor, Volkswagen, not yet known with new president, Matthias Müller, saying "not stone will go unturned" when it comes to cut-backs. This is in stark contrast, or so it would seem, to Martin Winterkorn, who was a football fan by his own admission. The Volkswagen Group, which includes Audi, Seat and Skoda, is currently involved with 18 of Germany's top 36 football clubs.
Doubts over Wolfsburg's ability to cope without VW
Should Müller pull VW out of their footballing venture, then teams will be forced to look elsewhere for sponsorship. The Wolves have already taken a step towards lessening any financial blow by agreeing an €80million deal with the US sportswear company for the next 10 years. Their current deal is with Kappa until 2019, although they are set to buy them out and the supposed agreement with Nike is to take hold after that in 2017.
Nike were, of course, the kit manufacturer during the season that seen the Volkswagen Arena outfit claim their first Bundesliga title back in the 2008-09 campaign, in what was their final year of a five-season stint with Wolfsburg. Since then, Adidas have also made the club's kits.
How will it impact upon transfers?
Wolfsburg have, themselves, made a sizeable surplus on transfer dealings this summer. The sale of Kevin de Bruyne to Manchester City and Ivan Perisic to Inter Milan have helped to recoup over £60m. Considering a total £25m profit was made on transfers, even after the big name signings of Julian Draxler, Max Kruse and Dante, and this deal should only aid the quest to bring in high-profile players.
The new sponsorship money could be used to lure FC Basel striker, Breel Embolo, to the Lower Saxony side. Sporting director, Klaus Allofs, has made it no secret that they are interested and will continue to keep tabs on the player. Kicker believe that the talented teen will cost the Wolves around €15m.