FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Shares in German sport goods maker Adidas <ADSG.DE> rose 2.5 percent in early afternoon trading on Monday, with traders citing market talk of takeover interest from U.S. rival Nike <NKE.N>

"That's why the shares are rising," said one Frankfurt-based trader, adding: "I can't imagine that two so big players would be allowed to get together."

Adidas declined to comment.

Nike shares were 0.1 percent higher in early trading in New York.

(Additional reporting by Anika Lehman and Rajiv Sekhri, Reporting by Peter Starck)