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.

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