JD Sports eyes JJB

JD Sports is studying a takeover bid for struggling rival JJB. City sources said this weekend they expect JD to make its move in the next few months. JD Sports director Cowgill declined to comment, but he told The Sunday Times that JD, capitalised at £196m - almost three times JJB's market value - would consider “all opportunities”. Retail analysts believe that Sir David Jones, chairman of JJB, would welcome a bid from JD because the company is struggling to secure enough stock from suppliers following a restructuring. It offloaded the leases on 140 underperforming stores and agreed monthly rental payments on the rest.